Houston, Texas-based ConocoPhillips (COP) explores, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and natural gas liquids. The stock is valued at $123 billion by market cap. It is expected to announce its Q3 earnings before the market opens on Thursday, October 31. Ahead of the event, analysts expect ConocoPhillips to announce a profit of $1.88 per share, down 13% from $2.16 per share reported in the year-ago quarter. The company has surpassed Wall Street’s EPS projections in three of the past four quarters while missing on one other occasion. Analys…