ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) have received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-six analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have issued a hold recommendation, sixteen have given a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $119.75.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America reissued an “underperform” rating and set a $102.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Friday, January 16th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on ConocoPhillips from $111.00 to $154.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their target price on ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Susquehanna lifted their price target on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $121.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on ConocoPhillips from $130.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, March 5th.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:COP opened at $121.37 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $149.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.14, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $107.06 and a 200 day simple moving average of $97.09. ConocoPhillips has a one year low of $79.88 and a one year high of $122.50.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The energy producer reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.23 by ($0.21). The company had revenue of $13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.35 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 11.90% and a net margin of 12.98%.The business’s quarterly revenue was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.98 EPS. Research analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th were given a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.00%.

ConocoPhillips News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target to $128 and maintained an “overweight” rating, giving explicit analyst support and upside to the stock. This upgrade is a near-term bullish catalyst. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Piper Sandler bumped its COP price target to $154 (from $111), a much more aggressive bullish view that can underpin buying interest from institutional investors. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Industry commentary: U.S. oil CEOs (including ConocoPhillips’ peers) warned officials the Iran-related energy crisis could worsen — a development that typically supports higher oil prices and benefits oil producers’ earnings and cash flow. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Market chatter flagged executive caution about ongoing volatility in energy markets; this underscores uncertainty (volatility can lift oil-company revenues but also increase stock-price swings). Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Large insider sales: EVP Nicholas Olds sold 14,522 shares (~53.96% reduction of his holding) at ~$119.36 — a material, disclosed sale that can pressure the stock and prompt investor questions about timing. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Senior VP Andrew Lundquist sold 34,500 shares (a ~66% reduction) at ~$119.68 — another sizable executive sale that likely amplified selling sentiment today. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Senior VP Heather Hrap sold 2,654 shares (~31.9% reduction) at ~$119.68 — adds to the pattern of senior-level profit-taking disclosed this week. Read More.

Insider Activity

In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 34,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.68, for a total transaction of $4,128,960.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 17,469 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,090,689.92. The trade was a 66.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Kelly Brunetti Rose sold 8,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.04, for a total transaction of $1,003,340.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 32,984 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,893,431.36. This trade represents a 20.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 600,884 shares of company stock worth $58,250,367. Company insiders own 0.24% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 8.4% in the 2nd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 1,650 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $148,000 after buying an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 5.9% during the second quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,681 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $600,000 after acquiring an additional 374 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 3.4% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 351,590 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $31,552,000 after acquiring an additional 11,552 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 125.9% in the second quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 24,603 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $2,208,000 after acquiring an additional 13,712 shares during the period. Finally, Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 8.9% in the second quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 32,432 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $2,910,000 after acquiring an additional 2,649 shares during the last quarter. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is a Houston-based international energy company focused on exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Formed in 2002 through the merger of Conoco Inc and Phillips Petroleum Company, the firm operates as an independent upstream company that explores for, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids across a portfolio of global assets.

The company’s activities span conventional and unconventional resources and include onshore and offshore operations in multiple regions around the world.