HSBC Upgrades BP (NYSE:BP) to "Hold"

Key Points

• HSBC upgraded BP from "reduce" to "hold" and raised its price target to $45.30 (from $35.10), a level that implies roughly a 1.3% downside from the prior close.
• The broader analyst consensus is an overall Hold with an average price target of $38.28, reflecting mixed broker actions (some raising targets, others cutting ratings).
• BP beat quarterly earnings and revenue and has near‑term catalysts (U.S. Gulf project approval, refinery sale and added cost cuts), but faces risks from a Whiting refinery labor lockout and an Australian antitrust probe.

BP (NYSE:BP - Get Free Report) was upgraded by investment analysts at HSBC from a "reduce" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $45.30 target price on the oil and gas exploration company's stock, up from their prior target price of $35.10. HSBC's price target points to a potential downside of 1.31% from the stock's previous close.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. BNP Paribas Exane lowered shares of BP from an "outperform" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $38.50 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. Piper Sandler increased their price target on BP from $44.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Freedom Capital downgraded BP from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings downgraded BP from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "sell (d+)" rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Evercore set a $38.00 target price on BP and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $38.28.

BP Stock Performance

BP stock opened at $45.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.98. BP has a 12 month low of $25.22 and a 12 month high of $46.79. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $38.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $36.16. The company has a market cap of $120.36 billion, a PE ratio of -4,585.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.31.

BP (NYSE:BP - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.03. BP had a net margin of 0.03% and a return on equity of 9.68%. The company had revenue of $47.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $42.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.44 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that BP will post 3.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sound Shore Management Inc. CT bought a new stake in shares of BP during the fourth quarter valued at about $67,890,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund acquired a new position in BP during the 4th quarter valued at about $17,768,000. Sagefield Capital LP raised its position in shares of BP by 125.2% during the 4th quarter. Sagefield Capital LP now owns 493,556 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $17,141,000 after buying an additional 274,381 shares in the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of BP by 6.0% in the 4th quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 392,400 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $13,628,000 after acquiring an additional 22,100 shares during the period. Finally, Bollard Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BP by 12.7% in the second quarter. Bollard Group LLC now owns 337,724 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock valued at $10,108,000 after acquiring an additional 37,974 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.01% of the company's stock.

BP News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting BP this week:

• Positive Sentiment: U.S. approval to advance a Gulf of Mexico development gives BP a material production-growth catalyst and supports longer‑term cash generation expectations. This helps explain investor interest in the stock. BP Granted Approval to Advance Gulf of Mexico Project
• Positive Sentiment: BP agreed to sell the Gelsenkirchen refinery to Klesch Group and raised its structural cost‑reduction goal by about $1bn (lifting the target to ~$6.5–7.5bn by 2027). Portfolio simplification and additional cost savings are credit‑positive and can boost margins and free cash flow. BP divests Gelsenkirchen refinery, increases cost reduction goal
• Positive Sentiment: BP remains highlighted as an income/ dividend name in energy lists, keeping it attractive to yield‑seeking investors in a risk‑off market—supporting demand for the stock. BP (Dividend Mention)
• Neutral Sentiment: BP, Exxon and Vitol are shipping record volumes of U.S. fuels to Australia this month, driven by global supply shifts; higher export flows can support refining margins, but benefits depend on timing and local spreads. Exxon, BP, Vitol ship most US fuels to Australia
• Neutral Sentiment: BP announced a move back to a central London HQ (Bankside); this is largely operational/PR in nature and unlikely to drive near‑term earnings but matters for corporate positioning. BP moves back to central London
• Negative Sentiment: BP has locked out more than 800 union workers at its Whiting, Indiana refinery amid stalled contract talks; picketing and operational disruption are potential near‑term risks to refinery output and local PR. This adds a clear downside risk to earnings if the dispute lengthens. Locked out BP workers picket outside Indiana refinery
• Negative Sentiment: BP and peers face an anticompetitive conduct probe in Australia, introducing regulatory/legal uncertainty that could create fines or business restrictions depending on outcomes. BP, Exxon probe in Australia

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.

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