New York, Jan 7, 2026, 03:03 EST — Market closed
- BP’s U.S.-listed shares fell 4.9% on Tuesday, underperforming a firmer broader market.
- Evercore ISI cut its rating, citing oil-price sensitivity and uncertainty ahead of a CEO change.
- Investors now focus on Feb. 10 quarterly results for guidance on buybacks and cash returns.
BP’s U.S.-listed shares fell 4.9% on Tuesday, ending at $34.36 after trading between $34.34 and $36.12.
The drop matters now because BP is heading into quarterly results and a leadership change with oil prices easing, putting fresh attention on whether shareholder payouts can hold up if crude stays weak. “Commodity leverage” refers to how sharply earnings and cash flow move with oil prices. 1
Evercore ISI downgraded BP to “In Line” from “Outperform” with a $38 price target, pointing to the stock’s recent run, higher oil-price exposure and the coming CEO transition. The firm said it is “wary” of leadership changes at large energy companies, where a new direction can take time to emerge. 2
Crude benchmarks slid on Tuesday on expectations of ample supply and weak demand, with Brent down about 0.5% at $61.48 a barrel, adding pressure across oil-linked stocks. 3
BP also disclosed it bought back 3,056,563 ordinary shares on Jan. 5 as part of a repurchase programme announced in November. Share buybacks are purchases a company makes of its own stock, often to return cash and reduce the share count. 4
The Evercore note flagged uncertainty tied to BP’s leadership handover, after the company said in December that Meg O’Neill will take over as chief executive on April 1. 5
BP’s fall lagged some peers, with Exxon and Eni also down on the day. Trading volume in BP’s ADRs rose to about 16.2 million shares, MarketWatch reported. 6
A key risk for bulls is that a softer oil backdrop lasts longer than expected, squeezing cash flow and forcing BP to slow repurchases or lean harder on asset sales, even as it tries to keep dividends and buybacks steady. 7
