Strait of Hormuz Opening Impacts Oil Prices
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Should l Buy COP?
Source: Fool
- Oil Price Drop: WTI and Brent crude oil prices fell by 11%, with WTI priced just over $84 per barrel and Brent below $89, reflecting a significant decrease from a few weeks ago when Brent approached $110, indicating a bearish market outlook on future oil prices.
- Market Reaction: While the S&P 500 rose by 1%, ConocoPhillips (COP) shares dropped by 6.6% as investors began to factor in the potential for lower oil prices, making the stock appear expensive at a 19 times earnings ratio with only a 12% projected long-term growth rate.
- Geopolitical Factors: Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed the Strait of Hormuz is now open for all commercial vessels, although President Trump stated this is not linked to the truce in Lebanon, highlighting the complexities of geopolitical dynamics that could affect oil market supply and demand.
- Future Outlook: With the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the market anticipates a resumption of Iranian oil supplies, which may pressure oil prices in the short term, potentially leading to continued downward pressure on ConocoPhillips stock, but could improve overall supply conditions in the oil market in the long run.
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Analyst Views on COP
Wall Street analysts forecast COP stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 121.570
Low
98.00
Averages
115.67
High
133.00
Current: 121.570
Low
98.00
Averages
115.67
High
133.00
About COP
ConocoPhillips is an exploration and production company. Its Alaska segment primarily explores for, produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and NGLs. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations located in the 48 contiguous states in the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. Canadian operations consist of the Surmont oil sands development in Alberta, the liquids-rich Montney unconventional play in British Columbia and commercial operations. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations principally located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea, Qatar, Libya, Equatorial Guinea and commercial and terminalling operations in the United Kingdom. Asia Pacific segment has exploration and production operations in China, Malaysia, Australia and commercial operations in China, Singapore and Japan. Other International segment includes interests in Colombia as well as contingencies associated with prior operations in other countries.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Oil Price Plunge: WTI crude prices fell over 11% to a five-week low after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is fully open, easing inflation concerns and causing the 10-year T-note yield to drop 7 basis points to 4.24%.
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- Goldman’s Stock Picks: Analyst Neil Mehta noted that despite geopolitical and commodity volatility, the energy stocks he recommends are fundamentally supported in the mid-term, particularly with a bullish long-term view that Brent crude will normalize at $75 per barrel.
- Cash Flow Growth Potential: ConocoPhillips is expected to achieve a 20% to 25% compound annual growth rate in free cash flow per share through cost reductions and major projects coming online, with a price target of $144 implying an 18% upside from Thursday's close.
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- Market Surge: The S&P 500 rose by 1.28% and the Nasdaq 100 reached an all-time high, reflecting investor optimism driven by peace talks between the US and Iran, which may enhance risk appetite and bolster overall market confidence.
- Oil Price Plunge: WTI crude oil prices fell over 13% to a five-week low after the Strait of Hormuz reopened, easing inflation concerns and causing the 10-year Treasury yield to drop by 8 basis points, further supporting the bond market.
- Earnings Growth Expectations: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to increase by 12% year-over-year, although excluding the tech sector, growth is only 3%, indicating resilience in corporate performance amid economic recovery and providing market support.
- Airline Stocks Soar: With reduced fuel costs, Alaska Air Group and United Airlines surged by over 14% and 11%, respectively, demonstrating the positive impact of falling oil prices on the airline industry, which could enhance profitability for related companies.
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- Oil Stock Decline: Major U.S. oil stocks, including Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, fell between 5% and 14% on Friday, reflecting market concerns over declining oil prices, particularly in light of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Crude Price Plunge: U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures dropped nearly 13%, hovering around $82 per barrel, the lowest in over a month, while Brent crude futures fell about 11%, which could negatively impact oil companies' profitability.
- Market Surge: The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz led to a significant surge in U.S. equities on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring by more than 1,000 points, and both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite reaching all-time highs, indicating strong market optimism regarding economic recovery.
- Trump's Announcement: President Trump stated on social media that the U.S. and Iran are collaborating to remove sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, eliminating a critical threat to vessels, which may further bolster market confidence.
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- Oil Price Drop: WTI and Brent crude oil prices fell by 11%, with WTI priced just over $84 per barrel and Brent below $89, reflecting a significant decrease from a few weeks ago when Brent approached $110, indicating a bearish market outlook on future oil prices.
- Market Reaction: While the S&P 500 rose by 1%, ConocoPhillips (COP) shares dropped by 6.6% as investors began to factor in the potential for lower oil prices, making the stock appear expensive at a 19 times earnings ratio with only a 12% projected long-term growth rate.
- Geopolitical Factors: Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed the Strait of Hormuz is now open for all commercial vessels, although President Trump stated this is not linked to the truce in Lebanon, highlighting the complexities of geopolitical dynamics that could affect oil market supply and demand.
- Future Outlook: With the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the market anticipates a resumption of Iranian oil supplies, which may pressure oil prices in the short term, potentially leading to continued downward pressure on ConocoPhillips stock, but could improve overall supply conditions in the oil market in the long run.
See More
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- Strong Energy Stock Performance: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has driven oil prices higher, leading energy stocks like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips in the S&P 500 to significantly outperform the index, thereby enhancing overall index performance and mitigating declines in other sectors.
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