ExxonMobil Corporation $XOM Shares Purchased by Willis Investment Counsel

Key Points

• Willis Investment Counsel increased its ExxonMobil stake by 3.3% in the third quarter, bringing its holdings to 254,964 shares worth approximately $41.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 61.8% of XOM.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: ExxonMobil has a consensus “Hold” rating from MarketBeat, with an average price target of $167.70, although Barclays raised its target to $200 and assigned an “overweight” rating.
• ExxonMobil recently reported $3.52 in quarterly EPS, slightly below estimates, but revenue exceeded expectations. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $1.03 per share, equivalent to a $4.12 annualized payout and a 2.3% yield.

Willis Investment Counsel raised its holdings in ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM - Free Report) by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 254,964 shares of the oil and gas company's stock after acquiring an additional 8,090 shares during the quarter. ExxonMobil makes up about 1.8% of Willis Investment Counsel's portfolio, making the stock its 12th largest holding. Willis Investment Counsel's holdings in ExxonMobil were worth $41,495,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Islay Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of ExxonMobil by 8.1% during the third quarter. Islay Capital Management LLC now owns 12,621 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $2,054,000 after acquiring an additional 945 shares during the last quarter. Ballast Inc. bought a new stake in shares of ExxonMobil in the third quarter worth $3,060,000. Net Worth Advisory Group bought a new stake in shares of ExxonMobil in the third quarter worth $1,449,000. Boyd Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in ExxonMobil by 21.9% in the third quarter. Boyd Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,560 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $579,000 after purchasing an additional 640 shares during the period. Finally, Parkway Wealth Management Group LLC increased its holdings in ExxonMobil by 4.9% in the third quarter. Parkway Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 24,097 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $3,922,000 after purchasing an additional 1,122 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 61.80% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently issued reports on XOM. Wall Street Zen raised ExxonMobil to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, September 5th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $182.00 price target on shares of ExxonMobil in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Barclays upped their price target on ExxonMobil from $177.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on ExxonMobil from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Mizuho lowered their price objective on ExxonMobil from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, ExxonMobil presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $167.70.

Key Headlines Impacting ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target to $200 and upgraded XOM to “overweight,” implying further upside and reinforcing confidence in ExxonMobil’s integrated business and exposure to higher commodity prices. Barclays raises ExxonMobil price target
• Positive Sentiment: Rising crude prices remain the primary catalyst. Oil has surged sharply in 2026 amid Middle East tensions, supporting expectations for stronger upstream earnings, while ExxonMobil’s Permian operations are benefiting from production growth, drilling technology and cost discipline. Oil explorers benefiting from higher crude prices
• Positive Sentiment: Investor articles continue to view ExxonMobil favorably ahead of its earnings update, citing its scale and diversification across exploration, refining, chemicals and specialty products. Its aviation-lubricants distribution agreement in the Americas also modestly expands its aftermarket reach. ExxonMobil outlook ahead of earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Shell’s planned expansion of Canadian LNG exports highlights continued industry investment in gas and LNG after major oil companies scaled back clean-energy ambitions. The move supports the long-term appeal of ExxonMobil’s LNG and integrated-energy strategy, but it is not a direct ExxonMobil announcement. Shell expands Canadian LNG operations
• Negative Sentiment: Crude prices retreated from recent highs after a waiver of Russia-related sanctions and tariffs, reducing near-term support for oil producers. Investors may also be cautious because ExxonMobil’s strong run has lifted valuation, while its latest reported quarter narrowly missed the earnings-per-share consensus despite beating revenue estimates. ExxonMobil shares and crude price pullback

ExxonMobil Stock Performance

Shares of XOM opened at $177.76 on Wednesday. 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 market capitalization of $736.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.21. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $164.58 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $154.65. ExxonMobil Corporation has a 12 month low of $111.99 and a 12 month high of $180.26.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.56 by ($0.04). ExxonMobil had a return on equity of 13.14% and a net margin of 8.88%. The business had revenue of $114.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.94 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.64 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 12.52 EPS for the current year.

ExxonMobil Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Investors of record on Monday, August 17th were given a dividend of $1.03 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 17th. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.3%. ExxonMobil's dividend payout ratio is presently 53.02%.

ExxonMobil Company Profile

Exxon Mobil Corporation, doing business as ExxonMobil NYSE: XOM, is an integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas. Its operations span the energy value chain, from resource development and refining to the marketing and distribution of fuels and other energy products.

Through its Energy Products segment, ExxonMobil manufactures and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, and other petroleum-based products. Its Chemical Products business produces petrochemicals, including commodity and performance products used in packaging, automotive components, construction materials, and consumer goods.

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