ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Shares Purchased by New York State Common Retirement Fund

New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its holdings in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Free Report) by 7.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,234,124 shares of the energy producer's stock after buying an additional 158,973 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned about 0.19% of ConocoPhillips worth $221,558,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Albion Financial Group UT raised its stake in ConocoPhillips by 876.9% in the fourth quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 254 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Global Wealth Strategies & Associates raised its stake in ConocoPhillips by 80.5% in the fourth quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 343 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. 82.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

In related news, Director Arjun N. Murti purchased 2,500 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 20th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $95.87 per share, for a total transaction of $239,675.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 21,500 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,061,205. The trade was a 13.16 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director R A. Walker purchased 10,400 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 17th. The shares were bought at an average price of $97.80 per share, with a total value of $1,017,120.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 38,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,716,400. This trade represents a 37.68 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.34% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

ConocoPhillips Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE COP traded down $4.10 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $97.90. 8,561,843 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,781,136. The company has a current ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. ConocoPhillips has a 1 year low of $94.23 and a 1 year high of $135.18. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.48. The stock has a market cap of $124.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.57, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.18.

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

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 17th will be issued a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. ConocoPhillips's dividend payout ratio is presently 40.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on COP. TD Cowen began coverage on ConocoPhillips in a research note on Friday, January 17th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $125.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group dropped their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $137.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. Raymond James lowered ConocoPhillips from a "strong-buy" rating to an "outperform" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $157.00 to $124.00 in a report on Monday, February 10th. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $165.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Friday, December 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, December 16th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $128.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $133.56.

About ConocoPhillips

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.