ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Shares Up 1.5% on Analyst Upgrade

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)’s stock price rose 1.5% during trading on Wednesday after Wolfe Research raised their price target on the stock from $143.00 to $155.00. The stock traded as high as $162.12 and last traded at $161.16. Approximately 12,287,285 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 34% from the average session volume of 18,578,527 shares. The stock had previously closed at $158.71.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on ExxonMobil from $128.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on ExxonMobil from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a “sector perform” rating and set a $180.00 price objective (up from $160.00) on shares of ExxonMobil in a report on Monday. Bank of America cut shares of ExxonMobil from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $154.00 to $158.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $177.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Twelve equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $164.26.

Key Headlines Impacting ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil is preparing to drill its first exploration well offshore Greece in decades in early 2027. The project provides a potential long-term avenue for reserve growth, although it is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. ExxonMobil VP Ardill: Drilling of first exploration well offshore Greece in decades in early 2027
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil Asia Pacific signed a framework agreement to supply crude oil to Vietnam’s Dung Quat Refinery, helping the facility diversify feedstock sources. The agreement could support regional trading and supply volumes, though financial details were not disclosed. Vietnam refinery signs crude oil deal with ExxonMobil Asia Pacific
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil is set to become operator of the 5.6-million-ton-per-year Papua LNG project as it advances toward a final investment decision. Progress on engineering, contracting and marketing could strengthen Exxon’s long-term LNG growth profile. Could TotalEnergies’ LNG Growth Give It an Edge Over ExxonMobil?
• Neutral Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its XOM price target modestly to $169 while maintaining a “neutral” rating, signaling moderate expected upside but limited conviction. The average reported analyst target is $167.30. ExxonMobil price target raised by Goldman Sachs
• Neutral Sentiment: Commentary continues to highlight ExxonMobil’s strong momentum characteristics and cash-generation capacity, including substantial operating cash flow that supports its dividend. These are supportive fundamentals but are unlikely to be fresh trading catalysts. Why Exxon Mobil is a strong momentum stock
• Negative Sentiment: Former shale executive Scott Sheffield accused ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods of betraying him by failing to support him in a dispute with the Federal Trade Commission. The allegations create reputational and governance overhang, although no direct financial impact was reported. Shale tycoon claims Exxon CEO betrayed him

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ExxonMobil

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of XOM. Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of ExxonMobil during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Portus Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of ExxonMobil in the first quarter worth about $36,000. Atlantic Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of ExxonMobil by 776.9% in the 1st quarter. Atlantic Private Wealth LLC now owns 228 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Keewaydin Investments LLC purchased a new stake in ExxonMobil during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Hyposwiss Advisors SA bought a new position in ExxonMobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

ExxonMobil Stock Down 1.0%

The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $159.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $153.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $665.40 billion, a PE ratio of 20.64, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.18.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.56 by ($0.04). ExxonMobil had a return on equity of 13.14% and a net margin of 8.88%.The firm had revenue of $114.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.94 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.64 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 12.01 earnings per share for the current year.

ExxonMobil Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 17th were given a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 17th. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. ExxonMobil’s payout ratio is presently 53.02%.

About ExxonMobil

Exxon Mobil Corporation, doing business as ExxonMobil, is an integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. Its upstream operations support oil and natural gas production in multiple regions worldwide, while its downstream businesses refine crude oil into fuels and other petroleum products for commercial, industrial and consumer markets.

Through its product solutions businesses, ExxonMobil manufactures and markets lubricants, specialty fluids, petroleum-derived products and chemical products, including commodity and performance chemicals used in packaging, automotive components, construction materials and other industrial applications.