Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Trading Down 3.3% Following Analyst Downgrade

Shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) dropped 3.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday after Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on the stock from $142.00 to $137.00. Sanford C. Bernstein currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Exxon Mobil traded as low as $121.00 and last traded at $121.1990. Approximately 23,270,482 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 3% from the average daily volume of 22,512,580 shares. The stock had previously closed at $125.36.

A number of other equities research analysts have also commented on the company. TD Cowen upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $128.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $156.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Exxon Mobil from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 13th. Finally, BNP Paribas raised Exxon Mobil from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, December 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $129.81.

Insider Activity at Exxon Mobil

In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total value of $351,570.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president owned 28,584 shares in the company, valued at $3,349,758.96. The trade was a 9.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Exxon Mobil News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bernstein kept a buy/outperform stance on Exxon, reaffirming investor confidence in the company’s fundamentals and cash-return story, which should limit downside over the medium term. Bernstein Keeps Their Buy Rating on Exxon Mobil (XOM)
• Positive Sentiment: Energy-sector momentum from U.S. policy shifts on Venezuela boosted XOM and the XLE ETF, keeping a bullish technical breakout scenario alive if key resistance is cleared. 3 Energy Plays to Watch as the Sector Reacts to New Developments
• Neutral Sentiment: Sanford C. Bernstein trimmed its price target (from $142 to $137) but still rates Exxon outperform — a mixed signal that reduces some upside while keeping analyst support intact. Exxon Mobil price target lowered by Bernstein
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage and commentary note a shifting narrative toward cash returns and sector caution; analysts say Exxon’s story is evolving, which could keep trading choppy as expectations reprice. Why Analysts See The Exxon Mobil (XOM) Story Shifting
• Negative Sentiment: Freedom Capital downgraded Exxon to a sell from hold — an immediate negative catalyst that likely pressured the stock today by increasing perceived near-term downside risk. Exxon Mobil downgraded to sell from hold at Freedom Capital
• Negative Sentiment: Heightened negative commentary and calls to sell (e.g., 247wallst) and comparisons that favor Chevron on Venezuela exposure are adding rotation risk away from Exxon. Sell Exxon Stock Immediately
• Negative Sentiment: A newly announced class action (Portnoy Law Firm) raises legal overhang and could weigh on sentiment until resolved. Portnoy Law Firm Announces Class Action on Behalf of Exxon Mobil Investors

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in XOM. Westfuller Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the third quarter worth about $30,000. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 1,500.0% in the 1st quarter. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC now owns 320 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Marshall & Sullivan Inc. WA acquired a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil during the second quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Bare Financial Services Inc raised its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 121.8% during the second quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 366 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clayton Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil in the third quarter worth approximately $40,000. 61.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Exxon Mobil Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $511.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.56 and a beta of 0.37. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $117.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $113.64.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 8.99%.The company had revenue of $57.55 billion for the quarter. On average, analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a dividend of $1.03 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. This is a boost from Exxon Mobil’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. Exxon Mobil’s dividend payout ratio is currently 59.88%.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.