BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Erste Group Bank raised their FY2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for BP in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, August 5th. Erste Group Bank analyst H. Engel now forecasts that the oil and gas exploration company will post earnings of $5.70 per share for the year, up from their previous forecast of $5.58. The consensus estimate for BP's current full-year earnings is $6.03 per share.
BP (NYSE:BP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $2.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $69.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $57.89 billion. BP had a return on equity of 16.63% and a net margin of 2.49%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 106.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.90 earnings per share.
Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Argus upgraded BP from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $50.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, May 11th. Weiss Ratings upgraded BP from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a report on Wednesday. Freedom Capital raised shares of BP from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of BP from $54.00 to $48.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of BP from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $46.36.
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BP Stock Down 0.1%
Shares of NYSE:BP opened at $41.61 on Monday. The business's 50 day moving average is $41.08 and its 200 day moving average is $41.94. The stock has a market cap of $108.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.57 and a beta of 0.15. BP has a 52-week low of $32.72 and a 52-week high of $48.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.
BP Increases Dividend
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 18th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.5196 per share. This is an increase from BP's previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.0%. BP's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 96.59%.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On BP
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BP. Sound Shore Management Inc. CT purchased a new stake in shares of BP during the fourth quarter valued at about $67,890,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its stake in shares of BP by 15.8% during the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 1,410,714 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $52,307,000 after acquiring an additional 192,211 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in shares of BP during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,136,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund purchased a new stake in BP during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $17,768,000. Finally, Sagefield Capital LP boosted its stake in BP by 125.2% in the fourth quarter. Sagefield Capital LP now owns 493,556 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock valued at $17,141,000 after acquiring an additional 274,381 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.01% of the company's stock.
More BP News
Here are the key news stories impacting BP this week:
- Positive Sentiment: BP agreed to acquire Woodside Energy’s 70% stake in the Calypso gas project offshore Trinidad and Tobago, giving BP full ownership and operatorship of the early-stage deepwater development. The deal could strengthen BP’s regional gas position and future production pipeline, although the project remains at an early stage. BP to acquire Woodside's stake in Calypso project
- Positive Sentiment: BP is pursuing sales of its Archaea Energy renewable natural gas business and other noncore assets, including North Sea interests. The moves support CEO Meg O’Neill’s strategy to simplify the portfolio, focus capital on higher-priority projects and potentially improve profitability. BP to sell landfill RNG business Archaea Energy
- Neutral Sentiment: Piper Sandler raised its BP price target from $42 to $43 while maintaining a “neutral” rating. The modest increase indicates limited near-term conviction despite acknowledging some potential upside. Piper Sandler raises BP price target
- Neutral Sentiment: Analysts highlighted BP’s North Sea asset sale, updated production guidance and higher interim dividend following a strong first half. The transactions may improve capital allocation, but investors are assessing whether BP’s recent share-price gains already reflect the benefits. BP sells North Sea assets
- Neutral Sentiment: A potential Brazilian megaproject could provide BP with a long-term growth region as existing pre-salt developments mature, but the opportunity remains dependent on exploration and project execution. Brazil megaproject
- Negative Sentiment: BP’s former finance chief warned that the UK Treasury could lose billions in tax revenue and relief from Labour’s planned North Sea shutdown. The report underscores regulatory and fiscal uncertainty surrounding BP’s UK operations. North Sea shutdown to cost Treasury billions
- Negative Sentiment: A nearly five-month labor lockout at BP’s Whiting refinery remains an operational and employee-relations concern, potentially creating disruption and additional costs. BP Whiting refinery labor lockout
BP Company Profile
(
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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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