Investors Buy Large Volume of Call Options on ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Stock traders acquired 68,293 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 339% compared to the typical daily volume of 15,545 call options.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ConocoPhillips

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Strive Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in ConocoPhillips by 151.0% in the 1st quarter. Frazier Financial Advisors LLC now owns 241 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Allied Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, BNP Paribas bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 82.36% of the company’s stock.

ConocoPhillips News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Traders purchased 68,293 call options on Friday, roughly 339% above the average daily call volume of 15,545. The unusually high call activity signals increased speculative and potentially bullish interest in COP.
• Positive Sentiment: ConocoPhillips reported record Permian production and generated approximately $4.2 billion in second-quarter free cash flow. Management discussed using its financial strength to support expansion in Iraq and liquefied natural gas, which could improve future production and cash generation. ConocoPhillips Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Positive Sentiment: The Coyote 3SX project on Alaska’s North Slope has achieved first oil. The start-up adds production from a project that received approximately $800 million in funding and reinforces COP’s growth outlook. ConocoPhillips Alaska’s Coyote 3SX Project Achieves First Oil
• Positive Sentiment: Rising oil prices amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz are providing a favorable commodity-price backdrop for COP, whose earnings and cash flow remain sensitive to oil prices. Why ConocoPhillips Is in Focus as Oil Climbs on Hormuz Tensions
• Positive Sentiment: Susquehanna forecast strong price appreciation for COP, adding to the positive analyst outlook. Susquehanna Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for ConocoPhillips
• Neutral Sentiment: Brokerages maintain an average “Moderate Buy” recommendation, indicating constructive but not overwhelmingly bullish institutional sentiment. ConocoPhillips Given Average Recommendation of Moderate Buy
• Neutral Sentiment: A broader LNG investment wave involving Qatar, the United States and Argentina may support the long-term market for gas producers, although the article does not announce a new COP project. Five LNG Megaprojects Poised to Power the Next Gas Boom

ConocoPhillips Stock Up 1.7%

COP stock traded up $2.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $126.67. 5,626,002 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,581,172. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market cap of $152.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.11. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $113.88 and its 200 day simple moving average is $116.60. ConocoPhillips has a 1-year low of $85.57 and a 1-year high of $135.87.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The energy producer reported $3.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.90 by $0.34. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 14.22% and a return on equity of 14.72%. The firm had revenue of $19.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.42 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 32.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 10.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th will be given a $0.84 dividend. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 17th. ConocoPhillips’s payout ratio is currently 44.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have commented on COP. Weiss Ratings raised shares of ConocoPhillips from a “hold (c)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $160.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $136.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $130.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, Roth Capital raised ConocoPhillips from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $124.00 to $130.00 in a research note on Monday, June 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $137.68.

About ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is a Houston-based international energy company focused on exploration and production of oil and natural gas. Formed in 2002 through the merger of Conoco Inc and Phillips Petroleum Company, the firm operates as an independent upstream company that explores for, develops and produces crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids across a portfolio of global assets.

The company’s activities span conventional and unconventional resources and include onshore and offshore operations in multiple regions around the world.