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BP p.l.c.

BP · NYSE

Market closed$41.90$0.820000 (+2.00%)After hours $41.99 · +0.21%

Key statistics

Previous close$41.08
Open$41.80
Day high$41.97
Day low$41.37
52-week high$48.27
52-week low$31.59
Market cap109.88B
Volume4.99M
Average volume9.25M
P/E ratio11.67
Forward P/E—
EPS3.59
Dividend yield+4.82%

Market context

Why it moved

BP shares rose as escalating US-Iran military conflict disrupted Strait of Hormuz oil flows, sending Brent crude prices sharply higher and boosting sentiment toward integrated oil majors like BP.

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What is happening

Recent company-specific developments and publisher coverage.

July 18, 2026BP closed up 2% as surging crude oil prices and a major strategic asset deal fueled broad energy sector gains. WTI crude jumped ~4% to over $82/barrel as U.S. Central Command completed its sixth consecutive wave of strikes against Iran, intensifying Middle East supply fears. Separately, ConocoPhillips announced it agreed to acquire a 42% stake in BP's Iraq Kirkuk joint venture — covering over 3 billion barrels of recoverable resources — a deal set to be signed during the Iraqi PM's Washington visit. These developments followed BP's July 14 Q2 trading update, which flagged a significant earnings boost from $103.85/bbl Brent, stronger refining margins ($1.2–1.4B impact), and net debt falling to $22–23B from $25.3B, though a ~$1B impairment in transition businesses and lower upstream output tempered the outlook ahead of August 4 results.

1.9961

July 17, 2026BP closed modestly lower amid a wave of mixed analyst activity, with J.P. Morgan and Jefferies both maintaining Hold ratings, while Bank of America Securities downgraded to Sell citing low-quality earnings and weaker cash returns. RBC Capital bucked the cautious trend with a reiterated Buy and a £7.00 price target. The analyst divergence comes as BP's Q2 trading update signals stronger earnings from elevated oil prices—Brent averaged $103.85/bbl in Q2—and improved refining margins, though a ~$1 billion impairment tied to its low-carbon strategy reset and lower upstream production weighed on sentiment. Peer TotalEnergies also flagged strong oil trading but weak LNG results, with broader energy sector pressure reflected in XLE declining 1.28% on the day.

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July 16, 2026BP closed essentially flat amid a complex backdrop of competing catalysts: a Bank of America analyst downgraded the stock to Sell, citing low-quality earnings and weaker cash returns with a 430 GBp price target, while the company's own Q2 trading statement pointed to stronger commodity realizations — with Brent averaging $103.85/bbl — and net debt falling sharply to $22–23 billion from $25.3 billion. The bullish commodity tailwind from escalating Middle East tensions and a Hormuz blockade, which sent Brent surging ~9% earlier in the week, is being weighed against a ~$1 billion impairment tied to BP's low-carbon strategy reset and flagged softer upstream production of 2,170–2,220 mboe/d. Full Q2 results are due August 4.

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July 15, 2026BP closed up 1.40% after releasing its Q2 2026 trading statement, which showed stronger realized pricing and refining margins offsetting softer upstream production. The company flagged upstream output of 2,170–2,220 mboe/d, down from 2,339 mboe/d in Q1 due to seasonal maintenance and Middle East disruptions, but projected earnings benefits of $1.8–2.1 billion in Oil Production & Operations from higher commodity prices driven by U.S.-Iran tensions. Net debt is expected to fall sharply to $22–23 billion from $25.3 billion, a significant balance sheet improvement. With Brent averaging $103.85/bbl in Q2 and RBC Capital maintaining an Outperform rating, investors appeared encouraged by the improved cash flow outlook ahead of full Q2 results due August 4.

1.396

July 14, 2026BP shares rallied sharply, outperforming sector peer Shell, as renewed U.S.-Iran military hostilities and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz drove Brent crude above $79 before settling near $78.75 — lifting integrated energy producers broadly. The move came one day ahead of BP's closely watched Q2 trading statement, with investors weighing whether elevated crude prices can offset the company's previously flagged softer upstream production for the quarter; RBC Capital maintains an Outperform rating with a median analyst price target of $50.

4.1582

July 11, 2026BP shares rose on Friday, outperforming the broader market, as investors responded to CEO Meg O'Neill's 100-day strategic message emphasizing financial discipline, portfolio simplification, and cost efficiency — a pivot aimed at winning back investor confidence. RBC Capital reiterated its Buy rating on BP, while the consensus 12-month price target implies roughly 24% upside from current levels. The gains came alongside a favorable European energy earnings backdrop, with sector profits forecast to more than double in Q2 driven by elevated oil prices amid the ongoing Hormuz crisis, setting up a potentially strong quarter for integrated majors like BP when it reports on August 4.

1.6861

July 10, 2026BP shares declined amid a broader energy sector selloff as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensified — President Trump declared the U.S.-Iran ceasefire 'over,' sending oil prices surging but weighing on equity markets broadly, including integrated majors. Adding to the day's narrative, BP's new CEO Meg O'Neill marked her first 100 days by outlining a structural overhaul, reorganizing the company into two units — Upstream and Downstream — and calling for greater financial discipline, tighter capex, and decentralized decision-making. Peer Shell fell ~1% and Exxon dropped ~2.6%, reflecting sector-wide pressure despite the oil price tailwind.

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July 9, 2026BP shares rose amid a broad energy sector rally after President Trump declared the U.S.-Iran interim ceasefire agreement 'over,' sending Brent crude surging over 5% and lifting integrated oil majors. BP was among the top performers on the FTSE 100, gaining roughly 3% in London trade, as higher oil prices bolstered the earnings outlook for integrated energy companies ahead of Q2 reporting season—where the energy sector is expected to lead S&P 500 earnings growth. The gains came despite broader market weakness, with the S&P 500 and Dow selling off on geopolitical risk-off sentiment, underscoring BP's role as a direct beneficiary of elevated crude. TD Cowen recently raised its price target on BP to $40 (Hold), while bullish options activity—with call options comprising over 94% of July 7th volume—reflects speculative interest in further upside.

1.554

Reuters · July 17, 2026ConocoPhillips joins BP in Iraq as Baghdad seeks more US energy investmentCNBC · July 17, 2026ConocoPhillips to buy 42% stake in Iraqi unit from BP as U.S. seeks to weaken Iran's energy holdCrude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com · July 17, 2026BP, ConocoPhillips Partner In Iraq's Giant OilfieldBloomberg · July 14, 2026BP Flags $1 Billion Writedown From Low Carbon BusinessMoomoo · July 14, 2026BP Investors Cheer Debt Reduction -- Market TalkCNBC · June 10, 2026What next for BP? Leadership exits test investor confidence in board oversightBloomberg · June 3, 2026Big New BP Shareholder Adds to Stock Despite Boardroom ChaosEnergyNow.com · May 26, 2026BP Chair Who Sped Up Company’s Turnaround Fired Over Conduct
Mt Newswire · July 17, 2026Sector Update: Energy Stocks Rise Late Afternoon
Mt Newswire · July 17, 2026Sector Update: Energy Stocks Gain Friday Afternoon
Mt Newswire · July 17, 2026Sector Update: Energy
Benzinga · July 17, 2026ConocoPhillips Taps Into Billion-Barrel Iraq Asset In Strategic BP Deal
Mt Newswire · July 17, 2026Sector Update: Energy Stocks Advance Premarket Friday
Mt Newswire · July 17, 2026Sector Update: Energy
Mt Newswire · July 17, 2026ConocoPhillips to Acquire 42% Interest in BP Northern Iraq Joint Venture
Benzinga · July 17, 2026ConocoPhillips To Acquire 42% Stake In BP Energy Company Of Kirkuk; Financial Terms Not Disclosed

Peers

S&P 500SPX · $7,457.69-1.01%Shell plcSHEL · $87.32+2.63%Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM · $147.39+0.99%Chevron CorporationCVX · $187.36+1.90%TotalEnergies SETTE · $81.39+3.26%Saudi Arabian Oil Company2222.SR · 26.84+0.60%Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - PetrobrasPBR · $17.97+2.86%Equinor ASAEQNR · $37.37+4.88%ConocoPhillipsCOP · $114.71+1.66%Suncor Energy Inc.SU · $62.43+2.88%Cenovus Energy Inc.CVE · $27.95+2.64%YPF Sociedad AnónimaYPF · $49.68+2.54%