ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Shares Up 1.8% – Time to Buy?

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)’s share price rose 1.8% during trading on Wednesday. The company traded as high as $177.43 and last traded at $177.19. 13,483,169 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 25% from the average session volume of 18,017,922 shares. The stock had previously closed at $174.08.

Trending Headlines about ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst rating upgraded to Buy: Zacks raised ExxonMobil to Rank #2 (Buy), citing improving earnings prospects. The upgrade may support continued investor demand. Zacks ExxonMobil rating upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Higher earnings forecasts: Erste Group Bank increased its FY2026 EPS estimate to $12.56 from $11.60 and its FY2027 estimate to $11.12 from $10.91. The FY2026 forecast is also above the current consensus estimate of $12.40. ExxonMobil earnings estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Oil-price leverage: Crude prices above $90 per barrel could materially strengthen ExxonMobil’s cash flow, particularly because of its relatively low-cost production in the Permian Basin and Guyana. ExxonMobil cash flow outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Integrated operations remain a strength: ExxonMobil’s 8.9% net margin exceeds Chevron’s 6.7%, while its chemicals business rebounded sharply to $1.13 billion in second-quarter earnings from $110 million in the first quarter. Its diversified model also supports dividend resilience during periods of weaker oil prices. Chevron versus ExxonMobil
• Neutral Sentiment: Strategic focus is evolving: Analysts note that management is emphasizing different assets and priorities than it did after acquiring Pioneer Natural Resources, raising questions about how investors should assess ExxonMobil’s future growth mix. ExxonMobil strategic outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: Port Houston will recognize ExxonMobil for its longstanding partnership and role in the Houston Ship Channel, providing positive reputational exposure but little direct earnings impact. Port Houston Lone Star Award
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and earnings risks: At roughly 22 times earnings, XOM trades near the broader market multiple even though some forecasts expect earnings to decline after an unusually strong second quarter. Analysts also question whether the stock is already pricing in much of its recent performance. ExxonMobil valuation and earnings outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Guyana project uncertainty: Guyana may scale back LNG plans while ExxonMobil requires more gas for its wells, creating potential project-scope and execution risks. Guyana LNG plans

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on XOM. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. UBS Group set a $172.00 price objective on shares of ExxonMobil in a research report on Friday, September 25th. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of ExxonMobil from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of ExxonMobil to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, September 5th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of ExxonMobil from $158.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 3rd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $164.78.

ExxonMobil Trading Up 1.8%

The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $162.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $154.31. 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 company has a market cap of $734.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.80, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.21.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $109.94 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.64 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 12.40 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ExxonMobil Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 17th were given a dividend of $1.03 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 17th. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. ExxonMobil’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.02%.

Institutional Trading of ExxonMobil

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. GQG Partners LLC grew its position in shares of ExxonMobil by 153.3% in the second quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 16,877,523 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,307,497,000 after purchasing an additional 10,214,420 shares during the period. Quantum Portfolio Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of ExxonMobil during the 1st quarter worth about $965,932,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new position in shares of ExxonMobil during the 1st quarter worth about $766,345,000. Diamant Asset Management Inc. lifted its stake in ExxonMobil by 17,312.4% in the 1st quarter. Diamant Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,183,864 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $370,514,000 after buying an additional 2,171,322 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Employees Provident Fund Board purchased a new position in ExxonMobil in the 4th quarter valued at about $238,970,000. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ExxonMobil Company Profile

Exxon Mobil Corporation, commonly known as ExxonMobil, is an integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas. The company also manufactures and markets fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and specialty products used in transportation, industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil operates across the energy value chain through businesses that include upstream oil and natural gas production, refining and fuels marketing, chemical manufacturing, and lower-carbon solutions.