ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Short Interest Up 21.5% in March

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 19,360,000 shares, an increase of 21.5% from the March 15th total of 15,940,000 shares. Approximately 1.5% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 8,890,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days.

Institutional Trading of ConocoPhillips

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of COP. Morse Asset Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $805,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 11,322 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $1,192,000 after buying an additional 589 shares in the last quarter. Fulcrum Equity Management boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 24.1% in the 3rd quarter. Fulcrum Equity Management now owns 5,939 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $625,000 after buying an additional 1,155 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 746.7% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 43,928 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $4,625,000 after buying an additional 38,740 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arvest Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips in the 3rd quarter valued at about $11,549,000. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

Shares of COP stock traded up $1.41 on Thursday, reaching $91.34. 898,140 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,115,259. ConocoPhillips has a 1 year low of $79.88 and a 1 year high of $130.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.29. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $94.76 and a 200 day moving average price of $100.95. The company has a market cap of $115.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.83.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The energy producer reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.20. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 17.26% and a net margin of 16.23%. Equities research analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 17th were issued a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. ConocoPhillips's dividend payout ratio is currently 40.05%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently weighed in on COP. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $111.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Susquehanna set a $136.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $133.00 to $120.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Raymond James lowered shares of ConocoPhillips from a "strong-buy" rating to an "outperform" rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $157.00 to $124.00 in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $127.00 to $115.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $126.89.

ConocoPhillips Company 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.