ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Stock Has Average Price Target of $145.00 According to Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts remain moderately bullish: Twenty-seven brokerages rate ConocoPhillips a consensus “Moderate Buy,” with 16 buys, two strong buys, seven holds and two sells. The average 12-month price target is $145, slightly below the reported share price of $147.94.
• Recent operating results were strong: ConocoPhillips reported quarterly EPS of $3.24, beating estimates of $2.90, while revenue rose 32.4% year over year to $19.52 billion. A strong oil-price environment and expectations for higher earnings could provide further support.
• Investors receive a quarterly dividend: The company pays $0.84 per share quarterly, equivalent to an annualized $3.36 dividend and a 2.3% yield. Insider ownership is minimal at 0.09%, while institutional investors hold 82.36% of the stock.

Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-seven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation, sixteen have assigned a buy recommendation and two have assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $145.00.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on COP shares. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "underperform" rating and set a $168.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Monday, August 24th. Wall Street Zen raised ConocoPhillips from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on ConocoPhillips from $159.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Piper Sandler started coverage on ConocoPhillips in a research note on Tuesday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $157.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded ConocoPhillips from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 29th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Andrew Lundquist sold 9,487 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.15, for a total transaction of $1,282,168.05. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 9,593 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,296,493.95. This trade represents a 49.72% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Warwick Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Warwick Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,066 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $509,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Patten Group Inc. boosted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Patten Group Inc. now owns 5,447 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $719,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. IFC Advisors LLC boosted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. IFC Advisors LLC now owns 20,182 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $2,664,000 after purchasing an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank increased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Kennebec Savings Bank now owns 6,828 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $855,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $124,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.36% of the company's stock.

ConocoPhillips News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Strong oil-price backdrop: COP recently reached a new 52-week high as Brent crude rose above $116 per barrel, supporting the outlook for exploration and production companies’ cash flow and earnings. Why Did XOM, COP, CVX Jump To 52-Week Highs Last Week?
• Positive Sentiment: Near-term earnings optimism: Analysts expect a double-digit increase in third-quarter earnings, providing a potential catalyst if production, realized prices, and guidance exceed expectations. What to Expect From ConocoPhillips' Next Quarterly Earnings Report
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst view remains cautious but constructive: Piper Sandler initiated coverage with a “neutral” rating and a $157 price target, implying moderate upside from recent levels but no strong recommendation to buy. Piper Sandler Stock Recommendations
• Neutral Sentiment: Momentum has been positive: COP gained nearly 3% over the past week and recently set a 52-week high, but the pullback indicates investors may be locking in gains after the strong run. ConocoPhillips Is Up 2.93% in One Week
• Negative Sentiment: Canadian workforce cuts are weighing on sentiment: ConocoPhillips plans another reduction in its Canadian workforce as it restructures regional operations. While the move could lower costs and align staffing with project priorities, repeated cuts raise questions about growth plans, employee relations, and asset investment. ConocoPhillips Plans Job Cuts in Canada for Second Straight Year

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

Shares of ConocoPhillips stock opened at $147.94 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $134.99 and a 200 day moving average of $120.24. The firm has a market cap of $177.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.57 and a beta of 0.24. ConocoPhillips has a 1 year low of $85.57 and a 1 year high of $152.77.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The energy producer reported $3.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.90 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $19.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.42 EPS. ConocoPhillips's revenue for the quarter was up 32.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 11.42 EPS for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th were paid a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 17th. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. ConocoPhillips's payout ratio is presently 44.44%.

About ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips NYSE: COP is an independent exploration and production company engaged in finding, developing and producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Unlike integrated energy companies, it primarily focuses on upstream activities rather than operating large refining or retail fuel businesses.

The company's portfolio includes conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas assets, liquefied natural gas-related interests, oil sands operations and other energy resources.

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