ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.21 EPS

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The energy producer reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.23 by ($0.21), Briefing.com reports. The business had revenue of $13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.35 billion. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 11.90% and a net margin of 12.98%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.98 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from ConocoPhillips’ conference call:

• ConocoPhillips said it delivered a strong 2025, outperforming guidance on CapEx, operating costs, and production, and successfully integrated Marathon Oil—doubling synergy capture and realizing about $1 billion of one‑time benefits while still driving pro forma production growth.
• For 2026 management is targeting a combined ~$1 billion reduction in CapEx and operating costs, guiding to roughly $12B CapEx and $10.2B OpEx with modest production growth (2.23–2.26 mmboe/d) while continuing to return ~45% of CFO and grow the base dividend.
• Major projects and LNG progress underpin the multi‑year cash plan—LNG offtake has grown to ~10 mtpa, projects are >80% complete with NFS expected to start in H2 and Willow ~50% complete (first oil early 2029), supporting management’s target of a $7 billion free cash flow inflection by 2029.
• The company emphasized a strong liquidity and capital returns profile—cash and short‑term investments of $7.4B (plus $1.1B long‑term liquid investments), nearly $2B net‑debt reduction in 2025, $3B+ of asset sales toward a $5B divestiture target, and $9B returned to shareholders in 2025.
• Near‑term risks remain as pre‑productive CapEx (notably Willow) keeps current pre‑dividend free cash flow breakeven in the mid‑$40s (management expects it to fall to the low‑$30s by 2030), and Q1 2026 production guidance incorporates estimated weather‑related downtime from Winter Storm Fern.

ConocoPhillips Stock Up 2.6%

NYSE COP opened at $107.69 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.18. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $79.88 and a fifty-two week high of $108.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $133.07 billion, a PE ratio of 16.99 and a beta of 0.32. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $96.50 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $93.72.

ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.84 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.1%. ConocoPhillips’s dividend payout ratio is presently 47.52%.

Trending Headlines about ConocoPhillips

Here are the key news stories impacting ConocoPhillips this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management committed to returning 45% of operating cash flow to shareholders (boosting yield/total-return prospects), supported by strong reported cash generation. ConocoPhillips Stock Still Looks Cheap – What’s The Best Play Here?
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $133 and kept an overweight rating — a material upside call that can attract momentum buyers. Wells Fargo raises PT to $133
• Neutral Sentiment: CEO Ryan Lance signaled a shift toward organic growth and international expansion (less M&A focus) — a strategic pivot that could change capital allocation and growth tempo over time. Analyst: Focus on organic growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles flag a Venezuela monetization-first approach (collect payments/settlements before ramping drilling) — could unlock value but is execution- and timing-dependent. Venezuela strategy piece
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 results missed consensus: non‑GAAP EPS $1.02 vs. estimates (~$1.23) and revenue slightly below expectations; management cited weaker realized oil prices — the miss pressured shares and remains a near-term earnings risk. Reuters: Q4 earnings miss
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan’s updated target ($103, neutral) implies limited near-term upside from current levels — a restraint on bullish investor positioning. JPMorgan maintains neutral PT $103

Insider Transactions at ConocoPhillips

In related news, Director William H. Mcraven purchased 5,768 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 10th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $86.68 per share, for a total transaction of $499,970.24. Following the purchase, the director owned 5,768 shares in the company, valued at approximately $499,970.24. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 500,708 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total transaction of $46,315,490.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 325,972 shares in the company, valued at $30,152,410. This represents a 60.57% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.24% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of ConocoPhillips

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of COP. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the third quarter valued at about $135,265,000. Credit Agricole S A bought a new position in ConocoPhillips during the third quarter worth $40,682,000. Boston Partners boosted its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 6,802,562 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $643,273,000 after purchasing an additional 378,330 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 23.4% in the second quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,452,061 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $130,308,000 after acquiring an additional 274,960 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP lifted its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 184.6% in the 3rd quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 165,064 shares of the energy producer’s stock worth $15,613,000 after purchasing an additional 107,056 shares in the last quarter. 82.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

COP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Monday, December 29th. Susquehanna boosted their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a report on Monday, January 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $98.00 to $103.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $117.00 to $108.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, Johnson Rice cut ConocoPhillips from an “accumulate” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $108.00 to $105.00 in a report on Friday, December 5th. Seventeen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $113.43.

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.