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

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) saw some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Traders bought 20,178 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 18% compared to the typical volume of 17,101 call options.

Analyst Ratings Changes

COP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on ConocoPhillips from $110.00 to $105.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $112.00 to $102.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, December 8th. Evercore ISI cut their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $111.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 6th. Piper Sandler reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $115.00 price target on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, November 24th. Finally, Roth Capital dropped their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $108.00 to $100.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Nineteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $113.19.

ConocoPhillips Stock Down 2.0%

COP stock opened at $97.19 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $120.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.32. ConocoPhillips has a 12 month low of $79.88 and a 12 month high of $106.20. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $91.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $92.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 1.18.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The energy producer reported $1.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.20. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 14.25% and a return on equity of 13.64%. The firm had revenue of $15.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $14.51 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.78 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 17th were paid a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 17th. This is a positive change from ConocoPhillips’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.78. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.5%. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.52%.

Insider Activity at ConocoPhillips

In other ConocoPhillips news, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 500,708 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total value of $46,315,490.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 325,972 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $30,152,410. The trade was a 60.57% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director William H. Mcraven acquired 5,768 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $86.68 per share, with a total value of $499,970.24. Following the acquisition, the director owned 5,768 shares in the company, valued at approximately $499,970.24. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 0.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of COP. Howard Hughes Medical Institute acquired a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Strive Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Board of the Pension Protection Fund acquired a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 136.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 315 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More ConocoPhillips News

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: U.S. signals the government may subsidize rebuilding Venezuela’s oil industry — this could finance re‑entry and capex for U.S. producers, improving the economics of restarting Venezuelan output and lifting long‑term reserves exposure for COP. Trump floats reimbursing US oil companies to rebuild Venezuela’s energy industry
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst/commentary highlights material upside if Conoco can convert its Venezuela claims into operating stakes — Seeking Alpha argues a $12B legal claim + Citgo auction proceeds could give COP low‑cost entry to large Orinoco Belt barrels (potentially hundreds of kbpd by 2030). That’s a clear long‑term growth narrative. ConocoPhillips: A Real Shot To Tap The Biggest Reserves Of Crude
• Positive Sentiment: Sector momentum: MarketBeat flagged COP as a core holding in energy ETFs benefiting from Venezuela headlines; broad energy flows could support COP if the rally extends. 3 Energy Plays to Watch as the Sector Reacts to New Developments
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks notes COP’s strong earnings‑surprise history and model inputs that point toward another beat — positive for fundamentals but not an immediate catalyst without new guidance. Will ConocoPhillips (COP) Beat Estimates Again in Its Next Earnings Report?
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusually large call‑option activity suggests speculative bullish positioning by some investors; this adds short‑term volatility risk. (No link available)
• Neutral Sentiment: Local industry reaction pieces (Houston) reflect operational questions and contingent planning — useful for context but not an immediate earnings driver. Houston oil companies react as Venezuela turmoil raises questions about energy markets
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst price‑target cuts from Bernstein (to $98) and Wolfe Research (to $126) reduce near‑term upside expectations and can pressure the stock as investors re‑risk. ConocoPhillips price target lowered to $98 from $116 at Bernstein Wolfe adjusts price target on ConocoPhillips to $126 from $131
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that the Trump administration did not consult major oil firms before Venezuela actions raise execution and policy‑coordination risk — potential for delay, restrictions, or political backlash that would limit upside for COP. Trump administration has not consulted US oil majors about Venezuela, oil execs say

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.