SM Energy (SM) Jumps 9.5% on Double-Digit Dividend Hike

Core Viewpoint - SM Energy Company (NYSE:SM) has shown strong performance recently, driven by a significant increase in its quarterly dividend and strategic asset sales, despite a decline in net income for the fourth quarter and full year 2025 [1][4]. Group 1: Dividend and Shareholder Value - SM Energy announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it to $0.22 per share, effective for shareholders on record as of March 9, 2026, with payment scheduled for March 23 [2]. - The company is also executing a share buyback program worth $500 million, with $12 million already repurchased, expected to continue until December 31, 2027 [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - For the full year 2025, SM Energy's net income decreased by 15.8% to $648 million from $770 million in 2024, while total operating revenues increased by 17% to $3.15 billion from $2.69 billion year-on-year [4]. - In the fourth quarter of 2025, net income fell by 42% to $109 million from $188 million in the same period a year earlier, and total operating revenues declined by 17% to $705 million from $852 million year-on-year [5].