Stock Traders Buy Large Volume of Put Options on SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSEARCA:XOP)

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF (NYSEARCA:XOP) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Investors purchased 25,920 put options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 41% compared to the average volume of 18,422 put options.

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

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its position in SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 1.7% during the fourth quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 3,099,500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $391,343,000 after buying an additional 50,500 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its stake in shares of SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,054,720 shares of the company’s stock valued at $403,834,000 after acquiring an additional 79,498 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in shares of SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 241.9% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 383,331 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,399,000 after acquiring an additional 271,214 shares in the last quarter. Vanderbilt University boosted its position in SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Vanderbilt University now owns 362,028 shares of the company’s stock worth $45,710,000 after purchasing an additional 2,600 shares during the period. Finally, EP Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 292,149 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,752,000 after purchasing an additional 2,642 shares during the period.

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

XOP stock traded up $2.08 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $172.16. The stock had a trading volume of 2,672,538 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,090,946. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $145.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $135.54. The firm has a market cap of $2.79 billion, a PE ratio of 11.28 and a beta of 0.95. SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF has a 12-month low of $99.01 and a 12-month high of $172.72.

SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Surging oil prices and supply‑risk premium are supporting producers — oil jumped after doubts about a coalition to protect the Strait of Hormuz and worries about the Iran conflict, which lifts exploration & production names in XOP. Oil gains over 2% as market weighs Iran war supply risks
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America raised its U.S. energy outlook as a potential supply shock reshapes forecasts and raises long‑run crude price assumptions — a catalyst for higher valuations for XOP constituents. Oil shock lifts BofA outlook on US energy
• Positive Sentiment: Technical and fundamental commentary expects WTI/Brent to remain elevated (WTI near $100), keeping investor interest in E&P stocks and ETF exposure. Natural Gas and Oil Forecast: Middle East Mayhem Eyes $100 WTI Break; WTI to Hit $103 or $92 Next?
• Neutral Sentiment: Fed decision day — markets expect a hold but will parse Fed commentary; rate guidance can sway risk appetite for cyclicals like energy, so investors are watching but the immediate driver remains oil. Fed meeting updates: FOMC set to hold rates steady as oil prices soar
• Neutral Sentiment: Equity futures and intraday market tone are being tugged between higher oil (positive for XOP) and broader rate/sentiment considerations — watch post‑Fed price action. Dow Jones futures dip as oil prices stiffen, Fed decision and dot plot awaited
• Negative Sentiment: Unusual put buying in XOP — investors purchased ~25,920 put contracts (≈41% above average daily put volume), signaling increased hedging or bearish bets that could cap upside or pressure the ETF if the outlook reverses.
• Negative Sentiment: Some headlines point to easing supply risks — an Iraq export deal and returning Iraqi shipments have trimmed premiums at times, which can prompt profit‑taking in energy names. Oil Prices Drop After Critical Iraq Export Deal. It’s Seismic as Iran Holds Hormuz Hostage.
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts and technical notes warn of volatility and short‑term pullbacks despite the rally — elevated oil has attracted both dip buyers and increased short interest, which raises the risk of rapid reversals. Crude Oil Price Forecast: Risk of Pullback Heightened

About SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF

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.