Alta Advisers Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL) by 121.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 295,202 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock after buying an additional 161,666 shares during the period. Whiting Petroleum Corp makes up about 4.1% of Alta Advisers Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th largest position. Alta Advisers Ltd owned 0.14% of Whiting Petroleum Corp worth $2,787,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. increased its position in Whiting Petroleum Corp by 85.2% in the fourth quarter. Deprince Race & Zollo Inc. now owns 70,371 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock valued at $664,000 after buying an additional 32,371 shares during the last quarter. Emerald Advisers Inc. PA purchased a new position in Whiting Petroleum Corp during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $713,000. Outfitter Advisors purchased a new position in Whiting Petroleum Corp during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $525,000. BB&T Securities increased its position in Whiting Petroleum Corp by 61.7% in the fourth quarter. BB&T Securities now owns 29,403 shares of the oil and gas exploration company’s stock valued at $277,000 after buying an additional 11,214 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cheyne Capital Management purchased a new position in Whiting Petroleum Corp during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,236,000.

Shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp (NYSE:WLL) opened at 7.35 on Monday. Whiting Petroleum Corp has a 12 month low of $4.01 and a 12 month high of $41.57. The company’s market cap is $1.50 billion. The company’s 50 day moving average is $8.12 and its 200 day moving average is $15.96.

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Cowen and Company dropped their price objective on Whiting Petroleum Corp from $26.00 to $25.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 9th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their target price on shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp from $40.00 to $27.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 7th. Sterne Agee CRT lowered their target price on shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp from $37.00 to $28.00 in a report on Monday, October 19th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $20.16 to $23.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Vetr raised shares of Whiting Petroleum Corp from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $20.84 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, October 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating, twenty-three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $24.78.

Whiting Petroleum Corporation is an independent oil and gas company. The Company is engaged in exploration, development, acquisition and production of crude oil, NGLs and natural gas in the Rocky Mountains and Permian Basin regions of the United States. The Company’s Rocky Mountains operations include assets in the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The Company’s Permian Basin operations include assets in Texas and New Mexico. The Company’s other operations primarily include its assets in Arkansas, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas. As of December 31, 2014, The Company’s estimated proved reserves totaled 780.3 Million Barrels of Oil Equivalent (NYSE:WLL). At December 31, 2014, the Company’s probable reserves were estimated to be 399.3 MMBOE and its possible reserves were estimated to be 225.5 MMBOE, for a total of 624.8 MMBOE.

12 Month Chart for NYSE:WLL

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