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

BP p.l.c. (LON:BP) has been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 618 ($7.80).

A number of research firms recently commented on BP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “underweight” rating on shares of BP in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Berenberg Bank dropped their price objective on BP from GBX 470 ($5.93) to GBX 440 ($5.55) and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 29th. Finally, Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 500 ($6.31) price objective on shares of BP in a report on Wednesday, September 4th.

BP Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of BP opened at GBX 395.95 ($5.00) on Friday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is GBX 390.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 425.87. The firm has a market capitalization of £62.76 billion, a PE ratio of 1,199.85, 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. BP has a 12-month low of GBX 379.70 ($4.79) and a 12-month high of GBX 562.30 ($7.10).

BP Dividend Announcement

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other BP news, insider Murray Auchincloss purchased 95 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 394 ($4.97) per share, for a total transaction of £374.30 ($472.42). Insiders acquired 200 shares of company stock worth $76,760 over the last ninety days. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About BP

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.