BP is seeking to revive its fortunes after strategic missteps caused its shares to lag behind rivals. - arnd wiegmann/Reuters BP’s new chairman backed the company’s strategic direction but said the business must act with urgency, and signalled further asset sales as it attempts to shore up its balance sheet while boosting valuations for shareholders. In a message to staff on Wednesday, Albert Manifold said the oil major needs to carefully look at its portfolio and suggested further assets would be sold t ...

Financial Performance - BP's underlying replacement cost profit for 2Q25 was $24 billion[21,32] - Operating cash flow for 2Q25 reached $63 billion, including a $14 billion working capital build[21] - The company announced a 4% increase in dividend per ordinary share to 8320 cents for 2Q25[21] - A share buyback of $750 million for 2Q25 was announced[21] Strategic Progress - Upstream production was approximately 23 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mmboed) in 1H25[20] - BP delivered $1 billion of structural cost reductions[25] - Refining availability exceeded 96% in both 1H25 and 2Q25[20,88] Targets and Guidance - BP aims for adjusted free cash flow growth of over 20% CAGR from 2024 to 2027[64] - The company targets net debt between $14-18 billion by the end of 2027[37,64] - BP is targeting $4-5 billion in structural cost reductions by the end of 2027[41,64] - The company expects capital expenditure to be approximately $145 billion in 2025[37,59]

Group 1: BP's Acquisition Prospects - BP's potential takeover is deemed highly unlikely due to its vast size and operational complexity, according to senior bankers at Moelis & Co. [1][10] - There is currently no obvious buyer for BP, particularly from the United States, and few global acquirers view BP's assets as essential [2][7] - Shell is considered the most compatible acquirer for BP in terms of asset synergies and regulatory feasibility, but its stronger market position makes a deal less attractive at this time [3][10] Group 2: BP's Divestment Challenges - BP's $20 billion divestment plan is facing significant challenges, with its lubricants unit, Castrol, being particularly difficult to sell due to a narrow pool of potential buyers [5][10] - The company may consider selling high-quality oil assets in the United States, which could attract strong interest, but this move might raise concerns about BP's future strategy [6][10] Group 3: Market Position and Alternatives - The consensus among energy dealmakers is that a BP takeover remains a distant prospect, with BP's scale, asset mix, and valuation challenges making any near-term acquisition improbable [7][10] - Investors interested in the energy sector may consider better-ranked stocks such as Subsea 7 S.A. and Energy Transfer LP, which have favorable Zacks Ranks [8][11]