BP (LON:BP) Stock Price Passes Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

BP p.l.c. (LON:BP - Get Free Report)'s share price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 456.89 ($5.93) and traded as low as GBX 402.40 ($5.22). BP shares last traded at GBX 406.45 ($5.28), with a volume of 22,876,063 shares traded.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of BP in a research report on Tuesday, September 24th. Bank of America reissued a "buy" rating and issued a GBX 500 ($6.49) price objective on shares of BP in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reissued a "hold" rating and issued a GBX 510 ($6.62) price objective on shares of BP in a research report on Monday, August 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, BP presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of GBX 632 ($8.21).

BP Stock Down 0.9 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 413.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 456.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.91. The company has a market capitalization of £63.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,220.30, a PEG ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.49.

BP Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 20th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 8th were paid a $0.08 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.37%. This is a positive change from BP's previous dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 8th. BP's dividend payout ratio is presently 6,969.70%.

Insider Activity at BP

In other news, insider Hina Nagarajan bought 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of GBX 407 ($5.28) per share, for a total transaction of £20,350 ($26,421.71). In related news, insider Murray Auchincloss acquired 87 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, August 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 434 ($5.63) per share, for a total transaction of £377.58 ($490.24). Also, insider Hina Nagarajan acquired 5,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, September 6th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 407 ($5.28) per share, with a total value of £20,350 ($26,421.71). Over the last ninety days, insiders bought 10,100 shares of company stock worth $4,223,044. 0.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

BP Company Profile

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.