ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Hits New 52-Week High After Analyst Upgrade

Key Points

• ExxonMobil shares reached a new 52-week high after Barclays raised its price target from $177 to $200 and maintained an “overweight” rating. The stock traded near $178.36.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed: 11 analysts rate XOM a Buy and 14 rate it a Hold, with an average price target of $167.30—below the current share price.
• ExxonMobil reported quarterly EPS of $3.52, slightly below estimates, but revenue exceeded expectations. The company also maintains a quarterly dividend of $1.03, equivalent to a 2.3% annual yield, while declining crude prices remain a key risk.

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday after Barclays raised their price target on the stock from $177.00 to $200.00. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the stock. ExxonMobil traded as high as $179.30 and last traded at $178.3620, with a volume of 11,124,509 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $178.98.

Several other analysts also recently commented on XOM. Argus lifted their target price on shares of ExxonMobil from $169.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of ExxonMobil from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Bank of America downgraded shares of ExxonMobil from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $154.00 to $158.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Freedom Capital upgraded shares of ExxonMobil from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $167.30.

More ExxonMobil News

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays raised its price target on ExxonMobil from $177 to $200 and upgraded the stock to “overweight,” implying approximately 12% upside from the referenced price. The move reflects stronger analyst confidence in ExxonMobil’s earnings outlook. Barclays ExxonMobil price target update
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil has indicated that stronger refining margins could provide a significant boost to third-quarter results, with estimates pointing to a potential $4.5 billion refining tailwind. Improving Permian production, drilling efficiency and cost discipline also support the company’s upstream outlook. ExxonMobil refining tailwind
• Positive Sentiment: Proponent became an authorized distributor of ExxonMobil Aviation lubricants in the Americas, expanding ExxonMobil’s aftermarket distribution reach. The announcement is strategically positive but likely has limited near-term earnings impact. ExxonMobil aviation lubricants distribution agreement
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary continues to highlight ExxonMobil’s diversified business across exploration, refining, chemicals and specialty products. That diversification supports cash generation and dividend security, although the stock’s yield is viewed as relatively modest. ExxonMobil dividend analysis
• Negative Sentiment: The main pressure on XOM is the decline in crude prices from recent highs. Lower oil prices can reduce upstream revenue and profit expectations, even as refining margins remain favorable. ExxonMobil shares and crude oil prices

Institutional Trading of ExxonMobil

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 8.3% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 492,309 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $83,525,000 after buying an additional 37,666 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 392.9% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Trust Co now owns 122,223 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $16,710,000 after acquiring an additional 97,424 shares during the last quarter. CV Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 126.7% during the 2nd quarter. CV Advisors LLC now owns 11,589 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $1,584,000 after acquiring an additional 6,478 shares during the last quarter. Midwest Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Midwest Trust Co now owns 710,969 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $120,623,000 after acquiring an additional 26,411 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its position in ExxonMobil by 13.6% in the second quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 253,420 shares of the oil and gas company's stock worth $34,648,000 after acquiring an additional 30,423 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.80% of the company's stock.

ExxonMobil Price Performance

The firm's 50-day moving average is $164.22 and its 200-day moving average is $154.53. The company has a market capitalization of $739.30 billion, a PE ratio of 21.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.04 and a beta of 0.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

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

ExxonMobil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 17th were issued a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 17th. 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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