BP Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:BP)

BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP - Get Free Report) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Stock investors acquired 1,099,171 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 3,260% compared to the typical volume of 32,718 call options.

BP Price Performance

BP stock traded down $0.17 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $33.73. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,701,342 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,247,489. The company's 50 day moving average is $31.47 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.37. BP has a fifty-two week low of $27.82 and a fifty-two week high of $40.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The stock has a market cap of $90.29 billion, a PE ratio of 421.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.64.

BP (NYSE:BP - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 11th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.44 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.56 by ($0.12). BP had a net margin of 0.20% and a return on equity of 10.96%. Equities research analysts expect that BP will post 3.53 EPS for the current year.

BP Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.69%. BP's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 2,375.30%.

Institutional Trading of BP

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. boosted its position in shares of BP by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 11,839 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $344,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares during the period. Fiduciary Trust Co boosted its position in shares of BP by 28.7% during the 4th quarter. Fiduciary Trust Co now owns 13,189 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $390,000 after purchasing an additional 2,944 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of BP during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,255,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of BP by 4.3% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 940,786 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $27,810,000 after purchasing an additional 38,759 shares during the period. Finally, Syon Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of BP by 38.9% during the 4th quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 21,476 shares of the oil and gas exploration company's stock worth $635,000 after purchasing an additional 6,019 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 11.01% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on BP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of BP from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of BP from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Piper Sandler reduced their price target on shares of BP from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a "sector perform" rating on shares of BP in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of BP from $34.70 to $31.80 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $38.76.

About BP

BP p.l.c. provides carbon products and services. The company operates through Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Oil Production & Operations, and Customers & Products segments. It engages in the production of natural gas, and integrated gas and power; trading of gas; operation of onshore and offshore wind power, as well as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage facilities; trading and marketing of renewable and non-renewable power; and production of crude oil.