ConocoPhillips $COP Stock Position Lowered by Hamlin Capital Management LLC

Hamlin Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) by 5.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,439,343 shares of the energy producer’s stock after selling 80,297 shares during the period. ConocoPhillips accounts for 3.2% of Hamlin Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Hamlin Capital Management LLC’s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $134,737,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in COP. Greenfield Savings Bank boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 1.2% in the third quarter. Greenfield Savings Bank now owns 9,018 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $853,000 after buying an additional 108 shares during the period. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. raised its position in ConocoPhillips by 0.9% during the second quarter. FAS Wealth Partners Inc. now owns 12,154 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $1,091,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the period. Strategic Blueprint LLC raised its position in ConocoPhillips by 1.4% during the third quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 7,917 shares of the energy producer’s stock valued at $749,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the period. Strathmore Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in ConocoPhillips by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Strathmore Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 3,441 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $325,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC boosted its position in ConocoPhillips by 58.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 316 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the period. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ConocoPhillips News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ConocoPhillips was a bidder in a record Alaska National Petroleum Reserve lease sale that drew roughly $163 million in high bids, signaling renewed upstream access and long‑term resource optionality for COP in the Arctic. Record Arctic Alaska auction lures ExxonMobil, Shell, Repsol and ConocoPhillips
• Positive Sentiment: Geopolitical flare-ups (missile attacks affecting LNG facilities) have pushed crude and energy prices higher, which should boost ConocoPhillips’ revenue and cash flow in the near term given its oil exposure. Oil Prices Surge After Attacks on Energy Assets in Qatar; Energy Stocks Higher in Premarket Trading
• Positive Sentiment: Mizuho raised its price target on COP to $136, reflecting bullish analyst sentiment that can support investor confidence and buying interest. Mizuho Raises ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Price Target to $136.00
• Neutral Sentiment: ConocoPhillips scheduled its first‑quarter earnings conference call for April 30; investors will watch the call for updated production, capex guidance and margin commentary that could move the stock. ConocoPhillips to hold first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday, April 30
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and press note U.S. oil producers could see a near‑term windfall from higher crude (an estimate cited ~$63B), but they also warn prolonged geopolitical conflict could harm demand and operations—an ambiguous signal for investors. U.S. oil producers could get $63 billion boost from high crude prices
• Negative Sentiment: An executive stock sale: a ConocoPhillips SVP sold about $4.13 million of COP shares, which investors sometimes view as a near‑term negative signal on insider sentiment even if sales are for diversification or other reasons. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) SVP Sells $4,128,960.00 in Stock

ConocoPhillips Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE:COP opened at $126.78 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $156.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.00, a P/E/G ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 0.27. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $109.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $97.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.30. ConocoPhillips has a 52 week low of $79.88 and a 52 week high of $128.13.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 5th. The energy producer reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.23 by ($0.21). The business had revenue of $13.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.35 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 12.98% and a return on equity of 11.90%. ConocoPhillips’s revenue was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.98 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th were issued a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Andrew D. Lundquist sold 34,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.68, for a total transaction of $4,128,960.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 17,469 shares in the company, valued at $2,090,689.92. This trade represents a 66.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 2,654 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.68, for a total value of $317,630.72. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 5,663 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $677,747.84. This represents a 31.91% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 100,176 shares of company stock worth $11,934,877 in the last 90 days. 0.24% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on ConocoPhillips from $98.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, December 29th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $98.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Argus increased their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $111.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of ConocoPhillips from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Friday, February 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $120.38.

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.