Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC Cuts Position in ConocoPhillips $COP

Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC reduced its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) by 62.0% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 443,239 shares of the energy producer’s stock after selling 724,261 shares during the period. Capitolis Liquid Global Markets LLC’s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $41,492,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COP. Strive Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Board of the Pension Protection Fund purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. BNP Paribas purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 2nd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Optima Capital LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. 82.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

More ConocoPhillips News

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ConocoPhillips is reportedly moving ahead with a gas development deal in Syria, a potentially meaningful new growth avenue that could add future production and diversify its portfolio. Reuters: Syria signs deal with ConocoPhillips, Novaterra to revive gas production
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts highlighted COP as a low-cost, diversified producer that may remain profitable despite oil-price volatility, which supports the stock during weaker commodity pricing. Zacks: Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Deal: 3 Energy Stocks Worth Watching
• Positive Sentiment: Additional coverage says COP is exploring new frontier growth opportunities, including Alaska and international projects, reinforcing the company’s long-term free-cash-flow growth story. Kalkine Media: Could ConocoPhillips Unlock A New Growth Frontier?
• Neutral Sentiment: Energy stocks were broadly weaker in pre-market and afternoon trading, suggesting COP’s move is also being influenced by sector-wide selling rather than company-specific fundamentals alone. Yahoo Finance: Sector Update: Energy Stocks Lean Lower Pre-Bell Wednesday
• Neutral Sentiment: ConocoPhillips also signed a memorandum tied to offshore exploration in the Mediterranean, which adds optionality but is still early-stage and not yet a near-term earnings driver. Yahoo Finance: ConocoPhillips Joins TotalEnergies And QatarEnergy For Mediterranean Block 3 Exploration
• Negative Sentiment: The U.S.-Iran peace/deal narrative is pressuring oil benchmarks by raising expectations for more supply, which is a headwind for COP and other producers in the near term. Yahoo Finance: How A U.S.–Iran Peace Deal And Syrian Gas Restart At ConocoPhillips Has Changed Its Investment Story

ConocoPhillips Price Performance

ConocoPhillips stock opened at $111.10 on Thursday. ConocoPhillips has a 12-month low of $85.57 and a 12-month high of $135.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 0.11. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $119.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $111.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.14.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The energy producer reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.17. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 12.10% and a return on equity of 11.39%. The company had revenue of $15.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $15.62 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.09 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 10.03 earnings per share for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 1st. Investors of record on Monday, May 11th were given a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 11th. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 57.05%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Kelly Brunetti Rose sold 7,700 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.03, for a total value of $1,001,231.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 25,284 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,287,678.52. This trade represents a 23.34% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Nicholas G. Olds sold 6,994 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.06, for a total transaction of $888,657.64. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 5,395 shares in the company, valued at $685,488.70. This represents a 56.45% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 634,715 shares of company stock valued at $81,410,816. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COP has been the subject of several recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $118.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 8th. Capital One Financial decreased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $156.00 to $154.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 18th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $130.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $160.00 to $161.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 18th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $134.48.

ConocoPhillips Company Profile

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.