Vise Technologies Inc. Invests $7.22 Million in ConocoPhillips $COP

Vise Technologies Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 69,464 shares of the energy producer’s stock, valued at approximately $7,222,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COP. AXA S.A. grew its position in ConocoPhillips by 91.1% in the 2nd quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 84,937 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $7,622,000 after purchasing an additional 40,499 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 6.1% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 784,368 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $70,397,000 after buying an additional 44,852 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas purchased a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 2nd quarter worth $33,000. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the second quarter worth $151,000. Finally, Main Street Financial Solutions LLC increased its position in ConocoPhillips by 53.5% during the second quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 4,806 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $431,000 after acquiring an additional 1,675 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.36% of the company’s stock.

ConocoPhillips Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE COP opened at $135.00 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $162.18 billion, a PE ratio of 17.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 0.11. ConocoPhillips has a 1 year low of $85.57 and a 1 year high of $135.87. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $114.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $117.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.39.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The energy producer reported $3.24 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.90 by $0.34. The company had revenue of $19.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.79 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 14.22% and a return on equity of 14.72%. ConocoPhillips’s quarterly revenue was up 32.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.42 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 10.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 17th. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on COP shares. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $130.00 target price on ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Truist Financial boosted their price target on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Zacks Research lowered shares of ConocoPhillips from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of ConocoPhillips from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, August 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $144.00 to $138.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $139.21.

ConocoPhillips News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Rising crude prices are supporting ConocoPhillips’ expected cash flow and earnings, providing the clearest near-term catalyst for the stock. ConocoPhillips gains as higher oil prices add to post-earnings momentum
• Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter adjusted earnings of $3.24 per share exceeded expectations, while $7.2 billion in operating cash flow, doubled share repurchases and a $0.84 quarterly dividend reinforced the company’s capital-return appeal. Full-year guidance was reaffirmed.
• Positive Sentiment: Argus raised its price target to $153 from $136 and maintained a Buy rating. The broader analyst consensus remains constructive, with a reported median target of $146 and no recent sell ratings. Argus raises ConocoPhillips price target
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and investors continue to cite ConocoPhillips’ low-cost inventory, LNG-related growth and potential cash-flow catalysts as support for its longer-term outlook. ConocoPhillips has low-cost inventory and a major cash flow catalyst ahead
• Neutral Sentiment: Aker BP’s agreement to acquire Apache and ConocoPhillips stakes offshore Norway could streamline the portfolio, although the immediate financial effect was not specified. Aker BP to buy Apache and ConocoPhillips stakes offshore Norway
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution risks are tempering the bullish outlook: the stock trades near its 52-week high, while investors are already paying a premium for earnings momentum and LNG growth. Is ConocoPhillips stock a buy as growth meets a premium valuation?
• Negative Sentiment: Insiders have reported 12 open-market sales and no purchases over the past six months, including substantial sales by senior executives. This may signal caution, although insider transactions can reflect compensation or diversification rather than a fundamental view.

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.