BP (LON: BP) is an oil and gas supermajor (yep, that’s the real term for it) that remains a key player in global energy, benefiting from high oil prices while navigating a shift towards renewables. The company has been around since the early 1900s and continues to be one of the biggest firms in the world in terms of revenue and profit.
Investors buying BP shares hope that its strong cash flow can keep supporting strong dividend payments. However, the transition to cleaner energy remains a long-term challenge. You need to consider oil’s ongoing profitability against climate and ESG pressures along with regulatory risks.
How to buy shares in BP
Open a brokerage account.Choose from our top broker picks or compare brokers in depth. Then, sign up on your chosen platform.
Fund your account.Add money to your account via bank transfer or debit card.
Search the platform by ticker symbol.BP in this case.
Choose an order type.Place a market order (or limit order, if you want to try to hold out for a specific price) with your preferred number of shares or investment amount.
Submit the order.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.
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Latest updates for BP
May 6, 2025: BP shares have edged up over the last few days due to reports that Shell is considering a takeover offer.
April 29, 2025: In BP's latest earnings report, it announced a fall in profit due to a recent strategic reset and a slump in crude oil prices, as a resul the BP share price is down by around 4%.
BP stock chart
Use our graph to track the performance of BP stock over time.
Fees calculator for buying BP shares with popular apps
Find the cheapest way to buy BP shares with our calculator. Bear in mind that both exchange rates and share prices fluctuate in real time, so the costs estimated here are just a guide (refer to platforms themselves for availability and exact pricing).
These providers cover a wide range of stocks, but we can't guarantee they'll all offer this stock.
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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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.
Historical closes compared with the last close of 362.2
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.
Forward annual dividend yield: 6.86% of stock value
Dividend payout ratio: 53.63% of net profits
BP has recently paid out dividends equivalent to 6.86% of its share value annually.
BP has paid out, on average, around 53.63% of recent net profits as dividends. That has enabled analysts to estimate a "forward annual dividend yield" of 6.86% of the current stock value. This means that over a year, based on recent payouts (which are sadly no guarantee of future payouts), shareholders could enjoy a 6.86% return on their shares, in the form of dividend payments. In BP's case, that would currently equate to about 32 per share.
BP's payout ratio would broadly be considered high, and as such this stock could appeal to those looking to generate an income. Bear in mind however that companies should normally also look to re-invest a decent amount of net profits to ensure future growth.
BP's dividend yield is perhaps best considered in relation to those of similar companies.
Currently 0.269% of BP shares are held by insiders and 49.395% by institutions.
BP's fiscal year ends in December.
BP's address is: 1 St James's Square, London, United Kingdom, SW1Y 4PD
BP's shares were split on a 2:1 basis on 3 October 1999. So if you had owned 1 share the day before before the split, the next day you'd have owned 2 shares. This wouldn't directly have changed the overall worth of your BP shares – just the quantity. However, indirectly, the new 50% lower share price could have impacted the market appetite for BP shares which in turn could have impacted BP's share price.
It's as easy to sell BP as it is to buy! Here's how to sell BP shares that you already own.
Open your investment app. If you've got one with desktop access, you can log in online
Go to your portfolio. This should be in the main menu
Find your shares. You may be able to search your portfolio
Choose how many you'd like to sell. You'll be able to review the price and see how much you'll receive
Sell your BP shares. Your investment platform will let you know when your shares are sold
Most dealing providers will let you use your debit card to top up your account and buy shares. The main ways are with a debit card, bank transfer or with Apple/Google Pay.
The easiest way to get hold of some BP shares is to sign up for a share trading app and place a market order or basic order. This type of order tells the platform that you're interested, so it'll try to execute it as quickly as it can. It could take some time for the order to go through, especially if there's a lot of volatility in BP shares.
George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers.
He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active. See full bio
George's expertise
George has written 245 Finder guides across topics including:
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