SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSEARCA:XOP)

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSEARCA:XOP) was the target of some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Stock traders bought 142,159 put options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 398% compared to the average volume of 28,530 put options.

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:XOP traded down $2.15 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $167.59. 2,561,676 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,923,319. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $170.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $146.86. SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF has a 12-month low of $118.14 and a 12-month high of $190.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.28 and a beta of 0.56.

Key Stories Impacting SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

Here are the key news stories impacting SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Middle East supply disruption remains severe, with refinery outages and the Strait of Hormuz closure tightening global oil markets and supporting higher crude prices. Iran, Ukraine wars deliver worst hit in years to oil refining output
• Positive Sentiment: U.S. crude inventories fell more than expected for a third straight week, reinforcing the idea that supply is tightening. U.S. Crude Oil Inventories Post Third Straight Weekly Drop
• Positive Sentiment: Oil prices have been firm on persistent geopolitical risk and traders see any pullbacks as buying opportunities, which can benefit E&P equities. Crude Oil Price Analysis – Oil Continues to Rally as No Real Progress Likely
• Neutral Sentiment: Natural gas futures are also higher, but the move is mixed and reflects changing weather demand rather than a clear fundamental breakout for producers. U.S. Natural Gas Futures Gain Ground
• Negative Sentiment: OPEC cut its 2026 oil-demand growth forecast, signaling that demand may not be as strong as previously expected. OPEC lowers 2026 global oil demand growth forecast
• Negative Sentiment: Heavy put buying in XOP points to rising bearish hedging or downside speculation from options traders. Unusual options trading activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its position in SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 241.9% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 383,331 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,399,000 after purchasing an additional 271,214 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in shares of SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF during the 4th quarter worth $28,088,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 28.0% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 629,152 shares of the company’s stock worth $114,399,000 after purchasing an additional 137,737 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltd increased its holdings in shares of SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 139.7% in the 3rd quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 222,891 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,462,000 after purchasing an additional 129,890 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cadence Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 455.2% during the third quarter. Cadence Wealth Management LLC now owns 141,729 shares of the company’s stock worth $18,737,000 after buying an additional 116,203 shares in the last quarter.

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF Company Profile

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (the Fund) seeks to replicate as closely as possible the total return performance of the S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index. The S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Select Industry Index represents the oil and gas exploration and production sub-industry portion of the S&P Total Markets Index. The S&P TMI tracks all the United States common stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock Exchange, National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) National Market and NASDAQ Small Cap exchanges.