ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Trading Up 2.3% - Time to Buy?

Key Points

• ExxonMobil shares rose 2.3% to about $164.41, driven largely by crude oil prices topping $100 per barrel amid heightened Middle East tensions. Higher oil prices support upstream earnings, but the rally could reverse if geopolitical risk and the associated premium fade.
• The company reported several potential long-term growth catalysts, including its 20th offshore discovery in Angola and plans to assume operatorship of the Papua LNG project. ExxonMobil also maintains a strong income profile, with 43 consecutive years of dividend increases and a 2.5% indicated yield.
• Wall Street remains cautious despite the positive developments: the consensus rating is “Hold” with an average price target of $167.45, while the latest quarter showed revenue above expectations but EPS slightly below estimates.

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM - Get Free Report) rose 2.3% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $165.18 and last traded at $164.4120. Approximately 12,883,545 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 31% from the average session volume of 18,734,705 shares. The stock had previously closed at $160.66.

ExxonMobil News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Oil prices provided the main catalyst. Brent crude moved above $100 per barrel and WTI surpassed $95 as Middle East tensions increased. Higher prices generally support ExxonMobil’s upstream earnings and cash flow, though the resulting “war premium” could fade if conditions improve. Comparing Energy ETFs: Positioning Portfolios as Oil Hits $100
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil and Angola’s ANPG announced a 20th discovery in offshore Block 15. The Vicango Este-01 find adds to the company’s deepwater resource base, while improved fiscal terms could encourage additional drilling and future production. Angola offshore discovery
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil is set to assume operatorship of Papua LNG from TotalEnergies. The move could strengthen ExxonMobil’s role in a major liquefied natural gas project and support longer-term production growth. ExxonMobil to assume operatorship of Papua LNG
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts see potential for further gains. Piper Sandler cited higher oil prices and solid earnings as drivers for ExxonMobil’s 2026 rally, while other commentary points to cost savings, lower debt and stronger profits. Piper Sandler outlook
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil’s dividend record remains a support for income-focused investors. The company has raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years, despite coming close to breaking the streak during the 2020 downturn. ExxonMobil dividend history
• Neutral Sentiment: At the Barclays Energy-Power Conference, management presented its business and strategic outlook, giving investors additional context on operations, capital allocation and commodity-price sensitivity. Barclays conference transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Pioneer Natural Resources launched cash tender offers for up to $2.1 billion of ExxonMobil-related senior notes. The refinancing activity may improve debt management, but it does not materially change ExxonMobil’s operating outlook. ExxonMobil senior-note tender offers
• Negative Sentiment: Commentary cautions that reaching $200 depends heavily on oil prices and the persistence of geopolitical risk. The rapid 2026 rally could therefore be vulnerable to a decline in crude prices or fading war-related premiums. ExxonMobil outlook toward $200

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

XOM has been the subject of several research reports. Freedom Capital raised shares of ExxonMobil from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of ExxonMobil in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings raised ExxonMobil from a "hold (c)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Bank of America cut ExxonMobil from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $154.00 to $158.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on ExxonMobil from $158.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given 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 $167.45.

ExxonMobil Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $681.48 billion, a PE ratio of 21.16, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 1.13. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $153.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $152.45.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.56 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $114.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $109.94 billion. ExxonMobil had a return on equity of 13.14% and a net margin of 8.88%.During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.64 EPS. Research analysts expect that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 11.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ExxonMobil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 17th will be issued a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 17th. ExxonMobil's dividend payout ratio is presently 53.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ExxonMobil

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Berbice Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in ExxonMobil in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in ExxonMobil by 456.1% during the 4th quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 228 shares of the oil and gas company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the period. Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in ExxonMobil in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Keewaydin Investments LLC bought a new stake in ExxonMobil in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Portus Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ExxonMobil during the first quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 61.80% of the company's stock.

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.

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