BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) has earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have given a hold recommendation, six have assigned a buy recommendation and four have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $41.4333.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore set a $38.00 price target on BP and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Weiss Ratings upgraded BP from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 24th. Freedom Capital cut BP from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Zacks Research upgraded BP from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Monday, March 30th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane cut BP from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $38.50 price objective for the company. in a research report on Thursday, February 12th.

BP Trading Down 0.6%

BP stock opened at $46.18 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $42.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $37.66. BP has a 12 month low of $27.17 and a 12 month high of $48.27. The company has a market capitalization of $121.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4,613.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 0.21.

BP (NYSE:BP) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.03. BP had a return on equity of 9.68% and a net margin of 0.03%.The business had revenue of $47.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $42.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.44 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that BP will post 3.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BP Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th were given a dividend of $0.4992 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.3%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 20th. BP’s dividend payout ratio is -19,800.00%.

BP News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting BP this week:

• Positive Sentiment: BP says its oil trading unit is on track for an “exceptional” first-quarter result, implying a sizable near-term earnings boost from recent crude-price volatility. BP flags “exceptional” oil trading results in first quarter
• Positive Sentiment: BP agreed to buy a 60% operating stake in three offshore Namibian blocks from Eco Atlantic, accelerating upstream growth and adding high-upside exploration exposure. BP to buy majority interest in three offshore Namibian blocks
• Positive Sentiment: Algeria granted BP prospecting rights in an underexplored eastern basin, expanding exploration optionality in a geopolitically significant hydrocarbon region. Algeria grants BP prospecting rights in eastern basin to boost exploration
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage: Zacks Research has published bullish near-term EPS estimates and a “Strong-Buy” stance, which can support investor confidence ahead of the quarterly results. Is BP (BP) Outperforming Other Oils-Energy Stocks This Year?
• Neutral Sentiment: BP expects upstream production to be broadly flat in Q1 — supportive of stable operational output but not a near-term growth driver. BP Sees Exceptional Oil Trading Result as Middle East War Fuels Volatility
• Negative Sentiment: BP warned that the trading windfall will coincide with a working-capital build and an expected net-debt increase (guidance cited around $25–27B), raising balance-sheet and financing concerns for some investors. BP flags ‘exceptional’ oil trading performance as Iran war chokes supply
• Negative Sentiment: Operational risk: the Whiting refinery lockout continues, spotlighting refining disruption, replacement staffing and potential cost or safety concerns that could hit refining margins or reputation. BP, USW give negotiations updates amid Whiting refinery lockout
• Negative Sentiment: Governance/headline risk: BP is facing growing shareholder pressure over its decision to block a climate resolution ahead of the AGM, raising the prospect of a contentious meeting and proxy votes that could dent sentiment. Why pressure is mounting at oil giant BP ahead of its annual general meeting

Institutional Trading of BP

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BP. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in BP by 4.2% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 39,146 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock worth $1,172,000 after buying an additional 1,588 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its position in BP by 7.4% in the second quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 8,295 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock worth $248,000 after buying an additional 568 shares in the last quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BP by 3.3% in the second quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,513 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock worth $375,000 after acquiring an additional 398 shares during the period. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of BP in the second quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BP by 60.7% in the second quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 8,134 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock worth $243,000 after acquiring an additional 3,072 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.01% of the company’s stock.

About BP

BP plc is a British multinational integrated energy company headquartered in London. Originating in the early 20th century as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, BP has grown into one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, operating across exploration and production, refining and marketing, trading, and a range of low-carbon businesses.

The company’s core activities include upstream exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, midstream and trading operations, and downstream refining, marketing and supply of fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals.