8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

April 15, 2011 (April 15, 2011)

SM Energy Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-31539	41-0518430
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

1775 Sherman Street, Suite 1200, Denver, Colorado (Address of principal executive offices) 80203 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (303) 861-8140

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.):

[_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[_] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01                      Regulation FD Disclosure.

In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the following information, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall such information and Exhibit be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

On April 15, 2011, SM Energy Company (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing that the Company’s Board of Directors approved a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock outstanding.  The dividend will be paid on May 9, 2011, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 29, 2011.  A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01                      Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits.	The following exhibit is furnished as part of this report:
	Exhibit 99.1	Press release of the Company dated April 15, 2011, entitled SM Energy Declares Semi-Annual Cash Dividend

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

			SM ENERGY COMPANY
Date:	April 15, 2011	By:	/s/ KELLY E. COLLINS
			Kelly E. Collins
			Director of Financial Reporting & Assistant Corporate Secretary

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

For Information

Brent A. Collins

303-861-8140

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SM ENERGY DECLARES SEMI-ANNUAL CASH DIVIDEND

DENVER, CO – April 15, 2011 – SM Energy Company (NYSE: SM) today announces that its Board of Directors has approved a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.05 per share of common stock outstanding.  The dividend will be paid on May 9, 2011, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 29, 2011.  The Company currently has approximately 63.6 million shares of common stock outstanding.

The Company has paid cash dividends to its stockholders every year since 1940.  The Board of Directors plans to continue making semi-annual dividend payments at the rate of $0.05 per share for the foreseeable future, subject in its sole discretion to future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, contractual obligations, and other factors.

INFORMATION ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of securities laws, including plans for future periods.  The words “will” and “plans” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements.  These statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause SM Energy’s actual results to differ materially from results expressed or implied by the forward looking statements.  These risks include such factors as the volatility in the price of natural gas, natural gas liquids, and oil, the uncertain nature of the expected benefits from the acquisition and divestiture of oil and gas properties, uncertainties inherent in projecting future rates of production from drilling activities and acquisitions, the ability of purchasers of production to pay for divested properties, the availability of debt and equity financing, the ability of the banks in the Company's credit facility to fund requested borrowings, the ability of hedge counterparties to settle hedges in favor of the Company, the imprecise nature of estimating oil and gas reserves, the availability of additional economically attractive exploration, development, and property acquisition opportunities for future growth and any necessary financings, unexpected drilling conditions and results, unsuccessful exploration and development drilling, drilling and operating service availability, the risks associated with the Company's hedging strategy, and other such matters discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.  Although the Company may from time to time voluntarily update its prior forward looking statements, it disclaims any commitment to do so except as required by securities laws.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

SM Energy Company is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, exploitation, development, acquisition, and production of natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil. SM Energy routinely posts important information about the Company on its website. For more information about SM Energy, please visit its website at sm-energy.com.