ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Now Covered by TD Cowen

TD Cowen began coverage on shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Free Report) in a research note released on Friday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $125.00 price target on the energy producer's stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $165.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Friday, December 6th. Mizuho raised shares of ConocoPhillips from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $132.00 to $134.00 in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $144.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a "positive" rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on ConocoPhillips from $134.00 to $132.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $136.00.

ConocoPhillips Trading Down 0.0 %

NYSE:COP traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $105.60. 3,900,788 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,429,475. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $94.23 and a fifty-two week high of $135.18. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $104.05 and a 200-day simple moving average of $107.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $121.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.55, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.19.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The energy producer reported $1.78 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $13.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $13.97 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 17.29% and a return on equity of 19.53%. ConocoPhillips's revenue for the quarter was down 8.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.16 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that ConocoPhillips will post 7.7 earnings per share for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 11th were issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. This is an increase from ConocoPhillips's previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.95%. ConocoPhillips's dividend payout ratio is presently 37.10%.

Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Albion Financial Group UT lifted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 876.9% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 254 shares of the energy producer's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Values First Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the third quarter worth $31,000. Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Global Wealth Strategies & Associates grew its stake in ConocoPhillips by 80.5% in the 4th quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 343 shares of the energy producer's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. 82.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.