ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Stock Position Lowered by Clifford Swan Investment Counsel LLC

Clifford Swan Investment Counsel LLC lessened its holdings in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Free Report) by 9.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 88,412 shares of the energy producer's stock after selling 9,382 shares during the quarter. Clifford Swan Investment Counsel LLC's holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $9,285,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 13.8% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 45,847,572 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $4,546,706,000 after purchasing an additional 5,549,078 shares during the period. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 83.0% during the 1st quarter. Elevation Point Wealth Partners LLC now owns 18,060 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $1,897,000 after purchasing an additional 8,189 shares during the period. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 159.6% during the 1st quarter. Schwartz Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 48,800 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $5,125,000 after purchasing an additional 30,000 shares during the period. ORG Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 853.3% during the 1st quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,616 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 5,922 shares during the period. Finally, Hennessy Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 151.1% during the 1st quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 91,224 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $9,580,000 after purchasing an additional 54,900 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.36% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $107.00 to $106.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $113.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 11th. Barclays reduced their price target on ConocoPhillips from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. UBS Group lifted their price target on ConocoPhillips from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $117.00 price target (up previously from $113.00) on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $121.33.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

ConocoPhillips stock traded up $0.26 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $95.30. The stock had a trading volume of 2,357,049 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,269,571. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $120.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.61. ConocoPhillips has a 1-year low of $79.88 and a 1-year high of $116.08. The stock's fifty day moving average is $91.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $94.46.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The energy producer reported $2.09 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $16.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.74 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 16.54% and a net margin of 16.02%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.05 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th were issued a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 19th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.27%. ConocoPhillips's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.64%.

Insider Activity at ConocoPhillips

In related news, EVP Kirk L. Johnson bought 5,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 16th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $94.24 per share, for a total transaction of $499,472.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive vice president owned 14,527 shares in the company, valued at $1,369,024.48. This represents a 57.44% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

ConocoPhillips Profile

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects.