BP p.l.c. (LON:BP) Given Average Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

Shares of BP p.l.c. (LON:BP) have been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the eight ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 605 ($7.39).

Several research analysts recently commented on BP shares. Berenberg Bank cut their price objective on shares of BP from GBX 470 ($5.74) to GBX 440 ($5.37) and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed an “underweight” rating on shares of BP in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a GBX 540 ($6.59) price objective on shares of BP in a research note on Monday, December 16th.

BP Price Performance

LON BP opened at GBX 425.10 ($5.19) on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of £67.38 billion, a PE ratio of 1,288.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 79.91. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is GBX 387.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 413.70. BP has a 52 week low of GBX 379.70 ($4.64) and a 52 week high of GBX 562.30 ($6.86).

BP Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 7th were paid a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, November 7th. This represents a yield of 1.54%. BP’s dividend payout ratio is currently 6,969.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling at BP

In other news, insider Murray Auchincloss bought 95 shares of BP stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 394 ($4.81) per share, with a total value of £374.30 ($456.96). Insiders own 0.26% of the company’s stock.

BP Company Profile

BP p.l.c. provides carbon products and services. The company operates through Gas & Low Carbon Energy, Oil Production & Operations, and Customers & Products segments. It engages in the production of natural gas, and integrated gas and power; trading of gas; operation of onshore and offshore wind power, as well as hydrogen and carbon capture and storage facilities; trading and marketing of renewable and non-renewable power; and production of crude oil.