NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Chesapeake Energy (CHK) - Get Report stock soared by 19.50% to $2.39 in Monday's trading session after financial blog Seeking Alpha argued that the company is a "prime takeout candidate."

Shares of the natural gas producer tanked earlier this month on bankruptcy concerns, even though Chesapeake Energy released a statement assuring investors that it has no plans to pursue bankruptcy.

However, the stock has rallied about 48% during five straight trading sessions, as the company plans to pay down $500 million of debt maturing next month, Bloomberg reported.

Chesapeake Energy has been laying off employees, closing offices, canceling drilling projects and restructuring debt to better contend with tumbling natural gas prices, Bloomberg adds.

The company is scheduled to report 2015 fourth quarter financial results before the market open Wednesday.

Separately, TheStreet Ratings team rates the stock as a "sell" with a ratings score of D.

Chesapeake Energy's weaknesses include its deteriorating net income, generally high debt management risk, disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself.

You can view the full analysis from the report here: CHK

TheStreet Ratings objectively rated this stock according to its "risk-adjusted" total return prospect over a 12-month investment horizon. Not based on the news in any given day, the rating may differ from Jim Cramer's view or that of this article's author.

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