BP (NYSE:BP) Upgraded to Hold at HSBC

BP (NYSE:BP) was upgraded by HSBC from a “reduce” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $45.30 price objective on the oil and gas exploration company’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $35.10. HSBC’s price target indicates a potential downside of 1.31% from the stock’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Freedom Capital lowered BP from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded BP from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $38.50 target price for the company. in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Argus raised BP to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of BP from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 13th. Finally, Wolfe Research restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $51.00 price target on shares of BP in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and five have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $38.28.

BP Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BP opened at $45.90 on Friday. BP has a twelve month low of $25.22 and a twelve month high of $46.79. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $38.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $36.16. The company has a market capitalization of $120.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4,585.61, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.31.

BP (NYSE:BP) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $47.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $42.19 billion. BP had a net margin of 0.03% and a return on equity of 9.68%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.44 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that BP will post 3.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BP

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BP. Strategic Advocates LLC acquired a new position in shares of BP in the third quarter worth $25,000. Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in BP in the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in BP in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. YANKCOM Partnership raised its stake in shares of BP by 1,068.3% during the 4th quarter. YANKCOM Partnership now owns 958 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 876 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Triumph Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of BP during the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.01% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting BP

Here are the key news stories impacting BP this week:

• Positive Sentiment: U.S. approval to advance a Gulf of Mexico development gives BP a material production-growth catalyst and supports longer‑term cash generation expectations. This helps explain investor interest in the stock. BP Granted Approval to Advance Gulf of Mexico Project
• Positive Sentiment: BP agreed to sell the Gelsenkirchen refinery to Klesch Group and raised its structural cost‑reduction goal by about $1bn (lifting the target to ~$6.5–7.5bn by 2027). Portfolio simplification and additional cost savings are credit‑positive and can boost margins and free cash flow. BP divests Gelsenkirchen refinery, increases cost reduction goal
• Positive Sentiment: BP remains highlighted as an income/ dividend name in energy lists, keeping it attractive to yield‑seeking investors in a risk‑off market—supporting demand for the stock. BP (Dividend Mention)
• Neutral Sentiment: BP, Exxon and Vitol are shipping record volumes of U.S. fuels to Australia this month, driven by global supply shifts; higher export flows can support refining margins, but benefits depend on timing and local spreads. Exxon, BP, Vitol ship most US fuels to Australia
• Neutral Sentiment: BP announced a move back to a central London HQ (Bankside); this is largely operational/PR in nature and unlikely to drive near‑term earnings but matters for corporate positioning. BP moves back to central London
• Negative Sentiment: BP has locked out more than 800 union workers at its Whiting, Indiana refinery amid stalled contract talks; picketing and operational disruption are potential near‑term risks to refinery output and local PR. This adds a clear downside risk to earnings if the dispute lengthens. Locked out BP workers picket outside Indiana refinery
• Negative Sentiment: BP and peers face an anticompetitive conduct probe in Australia, introducing regulatory/legal uncertainty that could create fines or business restrictions depending on outcomes. BP, Exxon probe in Australia

About BP

BP plc is a British multinational integrated energy company headquartered in London. Originating in the early 20th century as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, BP has grown into one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, operating across exploration and production, refining and marketing, trading, and a range of low-carbon businesses.

The company’s core activities include upstream exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, midstream and trading operations, and downstream refining, marketing and supply of fuels, lubricants and petrochemicals.