Gradient Investments LLC Purchases 23,254 Shares of ConocoPhillips $COP

Key Points

• Gradient Investments LLC boosted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 9.3%, buying 23,254 shares to own 274,534 shares valued at about $25.7 million.
• Wall Street sentiment is mixed but leans positive: ConocoPhillips has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy with an average price target of $120.38, while some firms (e.g., Mizuho) raised targets and others (Roth MKM) downgraded.
• Recent company developments include a quarterly EPS miss ($1.02 vs. $1.23 expected) and notable insider selling—about 100,176 shares (~$11.9M) sold in the past 90 days—while the stock pays a $0.84 quarterly dividend (≈2.7% yield).

Gradient Investments LLC grew its position in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Free Report) by 9.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 274,534 shares of the energy producer's stock after purchasing an additional 23,254 shares during the quarter. Gradient Investments LLC's holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $25,699,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tema Etfs LLC bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,804,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 14.7% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,331,176 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $220,506,000 after acquiring an additional 298,245 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 8.7% during the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 1,996,426 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $188,842,000 after acquiring an additional 160,410 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 12.1% during the third quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 140,829 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $13,321,000 after purchasing an additional 15,202 shares during the period. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 3.2% during the third quarter. Chilton Capital Management LLC now owns 389,995 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $36,890,000 after purchasing an additional 11,958 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 analysts recently weighed in on the company. Roth Mkm downgraded ConocoPhillips from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $112.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Wolfe Research lifted their target price on ConocoPhillips from $122.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. Mizuho upped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $121.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. Argus increased their price target on ConocoPhillips from $111.00 to $128.00 and gave the company a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $98.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, ConocoPhillips presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $120.38.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

Shares of NYSE COP opened at $126.78 on Monday. ConocoPhillips has a twelve month low of $79.88 and a twelve month high of $128.13. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $109.30 and a 200 day simple moving average of $97.85. The company has a market capitalization of $156.66 billion, a PE ratio of 20.00, a P/E/G ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The energy producer reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.23 by ($0.21). ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 12.98% and a return on equity of 11.90%. The firm had revenue of $13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.35 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.98 EPS. The business's revenue was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 EPS for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th were paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. ConocoPhillips's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Kelly Brunetti Rose sold 8,500 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $118.04, for a total value of $1,003,340.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 32,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,893,431.36. The trade was a 20.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Nicholas G. Olds sold 14,522 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.36, for a total value of $1,733,345.92. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 12,389 shares in the company, valued at $1,478,751.04. The trade was a 53.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 100,176 shares of company stock valued at $11,934,877 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.24% of the company's stock.

ConocoPhillips News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ConocoPhillips was a bidder in a record Alaska National Petroleum Reserve lease sale that drew roughly $163 million in high bids, signaling renewed upstream access and long‑term resource optionality for COP in the Arctic. Record Arctic Alaska auction lures ExxonMobil, Shell, Repsol and ConocoPhillips
• Positive Sentiment: Geopolitical flare-ups (missile attacks affecting LNG facilities) have pushed crude and energy prices higher, which should boost ConocoPhillips’ revenue and cash flow in the near term given its oil exposure. Oil Prices Surge After Attacks on Energy Assets in Qatar; Energy Stocks Higher in Premarket Trading
• Positive Sentiment: Mizuho raised its price target on COP to $136, reflecting bullish analyst sentiment that can support investor confidence and buying interest. Mizuho Raises ConocoPhillips NYSE: COP Price Target to $136.00
• Neutral Sentiment: ConocoPhillips scheduled its first‑quarter earnings conference call for April 30; investors will watch the call for updated production, capex guidance and margin commentary that could move the stock. ConocoPhillips to hold first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, April 30
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and press note U.S. oil producers could see a near‑term windfall from higher crude (an estimate cited ~$63B), but they also warn prolonged geopolitical conflict could harm demand and operations—an ambiguous signal for investors. U.S. oil producers could get $63 billion boost from high crude prices
• Negative Sentiment: An executive stock sale: a ConocoPhillips SVP sold about $4.13 million of COP shares, which investors sometimes view as a near‑term negative signal on insider sentiment even if sales are for diversification or other reasons. ConocoPhillips NYSE: COP SVP Sells $4,128,960.00 in Stock

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.

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