Advisory Research Inc. Acquires 2,792 Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)

Advisory Research Inc. grew its holdings in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) by 31.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,660 shares of the energy producer’s stock after buying an additional 2,792 shares during the period. Advisory Research Inc.’s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $1,156,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Albion Financial Group UT boosted its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 876.9% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 254 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the period. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips during the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. 82.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

ConocoPhillips Stock Performance

NYSE:COP opened at $86.32 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $109.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.08, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.83. ConocoPhillips has a twelve month low of $79.88 and a twelve month high of $130.77. The company has a fifty day moving average of $95.71 and a 200-day moving average of $101.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The energy producer reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.20. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 17.26%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 EPS for the current year.

ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 17th were given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.61%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. ConocoPhillips’s payout ratio is 40.05%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $133.00 to $120.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $137.00 to $135.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $132.00 price objective on ConocoPhillips in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Raymond James downgraded shares of ConocoPhillips from a “strong-buy” rating to an “outperform” rating and cut their price target for the stock from $157.00 to $124.00 in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $111.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $128.32.

ConocoPhillips Profile

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects.