How to buy BP shares

BP shares have increased 0.78% from their previous closing price (491p). Learn how to easily invest in BP shares.

BP
LSE: BP-GBX
About 63 hours ago

494.85p

+3.85p (+0.78%)

BP plc is a British oil and gas company, it is best known for its fuel service stations. BP stands as one of the world’s seven oil and gas supermajors. As of 2022 BP is involved in leading one of the worlds largest hydrogen hubs based in western Australia.

How to buy shares in BP

  1. Choose a platform. If you're a beginner, our share-dealing table below can help you choose.
  2. Open your account. You'll need your ID, bank details and national insurance number.
  3. Confirm your payment details. You'll need to fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
  4. Search the platform for stock code: BP in this case.
  5. Research BP shares. The platform should provide the latest information available.
  6. Buy your BP shares. It's that simple.
The whole process can take as little as 15 minutes. You'll need a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, your passport or driving licence and a means of payment.

Our top picks for where to buy BP shares

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Fees for buying 100x BP shares with popular platforms

Share prices fluctuate in real time, so the costs presented here should be considered as a guide only. They do not incorporate stamp duty. Always refer to the platform itself for availability and pricing – which may differ from our information.

Platform Customer feedback Monthly fee Min. initial deposit Trading fee estimate Link
eToro Free Stocks logo ★★★★★ £0 $100 £0.00
£494.85 total
Capital at risk
XTB logo ★★★★★ £0 No minimum £0.00
£494.85 total
Capital at risk
CMC Invest share dealing account logo ★★★★★ £0 No minimum £0.00
£494.85 total
Capital at risk
Hargreaves Lansdown Fund and Share Account logo ★★★★★ £0 £1 £11.95
£506.80 total
Capital at risk
InvestEngine logo ★★★★★ 0% - 0.25% £100 £0.00
£494.85 total
Capital at risk

Full comparison of share dealing platforms

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

Alternative ways to invest in BP

Buying shares in just one company is generally considered a riskier bet than investing in a range of investments - AKA a "diversified portfolio". Experts generally recommend holding a mix of investments in specific assets and funds. Funds are ready-made portfolios of multiple companies' shares (potentially including BP), and the idea is that drops in the value of one constituent company's share price might be offset by rises in others.

BP is a major part of the London stock exchange, so it's included in many global funds and investment trusts, as well as tracker-style exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Is it a good time to buy BP stock?

Only you can make the decision on the time to leap. The gauge below shows real-time ratings that are based on 26 popular indicators such as moving averages, for specific time periods. It's not a recommendation but is simply technical analysis that can form part of your research.

Finder might not agree with the analysis and we take no responsibility. We also give no representations or warranty on the accuracy or completeness of the information provided on this page.

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  • Pay no stamp duty on UK shares
  • Commission-free trading. Other fees may apply.

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

Is BP under- or over-valued?

Valuing a stock is incredibly difficult, and any metric has to be viewed as part of a bigger picture of overall performance. However, analysts commonly use some key metrics to help gauge value. Check out the BP P/E ratio, PEG ratio and EBITDA

BP's current share price divided by its per-share earnings (EPS) over a 12-month period gives a "trailing price/earnings ratio" of roughly 7x. In other words, BP shares trade at around 7x recent earnings.

That's relatively low compared to, say, the trailing 12-month P/E ratio for the FTSE 250 at the end of September 2019 (19.71). The low P/E ratio could mean that investors are pessimistic about the outlook for the shares or simply that they're under-valued.

However, BP's P/E ratio is best considered in relation to those of others within the oil & gas integrated industry or those of similar companies.

BP's "price/earnings-to-growth ratio" can be calculated by dividing its P/E ratio by its growth – to give 13.6434. Higher PEG ratios such as this can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer worse value given the current rate of growth.

The PEG ratio provides a broader view than just the P/E ratio, as it gives more insight into BP's future profitability. By accounting for growth, it could also help you if you're comparing the share prices of multiple high-growth companies.

However, it's sensible to consider BP's PEG ratio in relation to those of similar companies.

BP's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) is a whopping £44.2 billion.

The EBITDA is a measure of a BP's overall financial performance and is widely used to measure a its profitability.

To put that into context you can compare it against similar companies.

What's BP's ESG track record?

Environmental, social and governance (known as ESG) criteria are a set of three factors used to measure the sustainability and social impact of companies like BP.

Overall BP ESG score

BP's total ESG risk: 39.4

Socially conscious investors use ESG scores to screen how an investment aligns with their worldview, and BP's overall score of 39.4 (as at 12/31/2018) is pretty weak – landing it in it in the 82nd percentile of companies rated in the same sector.

ESG scores are increasingly used to estimate the level of risk a company like BP is exposed to within the areas of "environmental" (carbon footprint, resource use etc.), "social" (health and safety, human rights etc.), and "governance" (anti-corruption, tax transparency etc.).

To gain some more context, you can compare BP's total ESG risk score against those of similar companies.

BP's environmental score: 21.01/100

BP's environmental score of 21.01 puts it squarely in the 4th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that BP is a leader in its sector terms of its environmental impact, and exposed to a lower level of risk.

BP's social score: 11.95/100

BP's social score of 11.95 puts it squarely in the 4th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that BP is a leader in its sector when it comes to taking good care of its workforce and the communities it impacts.

BP's governance score: 11.44/100

BP's governance score puts it squarely in the 4th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. That could suggest that BP is a leader in its sector when it comes to responsible management and strategy, and exposed to a lower level of risk.

BP's controversy score: 2/5

ESG scores also evaluate any incidences of controversy that a company has been involved in. A high-profile company, BP scored a 2 out of 5 for controversy – the second-highest score possible, reflecting that BP has, for the most part, managed to keep its nose clean.

Wondering how that compares? Below are the controversy scores of similar companies.

Frequently asked questions

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

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2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    MichaelAugust 7, 2018

    which Broker should I invest buying BPshares?

      AvatarFinder
      JoshuaAugust 15, 2018Finder

      Hi Michael,

      Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)

      Whilst we are unable to give a recommendation on a specific option, let me help you make the right decision. By assessing your current and future needs, preference, and budget, you will be able to know which broker is the right one for you.

      Another thing you can do is compare your options through the table found on this page. The table is found under the subheading “Compare these platforms and trade BP shares.” By doing so, you will be able to see the pros and cons of each broker. Once you find the right one for you, then click the “Go to site” green button to learn more.

      I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.

      Have a wonderful day!

      Cheers,
      Joshua

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