ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-one research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $163.95.

A number of research analysts have weighed in on XOM shares. Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price target on ExxonMobil from $195.00 to $182.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 11th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $155.00 price target on shares of ExxonMobil in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Wolfe Research cut ExxonMobil from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Loop Capital set a $123.00 target price on ExxonMobil in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen reduced their target price on ExxonMobil from $175.00 to $172.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 10th.

Key Stories Impacting ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy signed a preliminary deal with Egypt to study development of Cyprus gas discoveries, opening a possible path to export gas through Egypt’s LNG infrastructure to Europe. Reuters: QatarEnergy, ExxonMobil sign deal with Egypt to study Cyprus gas development
• Positive Sentiment: Reports that ExxonMobil may be in talks to regain rights to produce oil in Venezuela suggest a potential long-term growth opportunity if the company can re-enter a major resource base. Reuters: Exxon may acquire rights to produce oil in Venezuela
• Positive Sentiment: Rising crude prices are also supportive, with WTI above $95 per barrel boosting Permian oil and associated gas activity, which could improve ExxonMobil’s upstream revenue and cash flow. Zacks: More Gas Per Barrel of Oil: A Growth Lever for Permian Operators
• Neutral Sentiment: Additional coverage highlighted ExxonMobil’s low-debt balance sheet and ongoing ability to fund dividends and projects, reinforcing the company’s financial resilience. Zacks: ExxonMobil’s Resilience: What Sets it Apart in Uncertain Times
• Neutral Sentiment: Technical commentary said XOM is pulling back after a breakout and testing support levels, which traders may be watching for confirmation of the broader uptrend. FXEmpire: ExxonMobil (XOM) Price Forecast
• Negative Sentiment: Governance-related headlines, including Exxon’s clash with proxy advisers ISS and Glass Lewis, may keep some pressure on the stock by adding uncertainty around the Texas move and shareholder voting dynamics. WSJ: Exxon Blasts Proxy Advisers for Conflict of Interest in Fight Over Texas Move

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,150 shares of ExxonMobil stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.82, for a total value of $339,313.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 18,204 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,872,955.28. This trade represents a 10.56% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.03% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in XOM. Berbice Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in ExxonMobil in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Midwest Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in ExxonMobil in the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. raised its position in ExxonMobil by 456.1% in the fourth 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 purchasing an additional 187 shares during the period. Key Capital Management INC purchased a new position in ExxonMobil in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Westfuller Advisors LLC purchased a new position in ExxonMobil in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 61.80% of the company’s stock.

ExxonMobil Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of ExxonMobil stock opened at $154.82 on Friday. ExxonMobil has a fifty-two week low of $101.18 and a fifty-two week high of $176.41. The firm has a market cap of $641.71 billion, a PE ratio of 26.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.68 and a beta of 0.19. The business’s fifty day moving average is $155.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $138.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 1st. The oil and gas company reported $1.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.98 by $0.18. ExxonMobil had a return on equity of 10.24% and a net margin of 7.57%.The company had revenue of $83.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $81.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.76 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that ExxonMobil will post 11.49 earnings per share for the current year.

ExxonMobil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a $1.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. ExxonMobil’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 69.48%.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) is an integrated oil and gas company engaged in the exploration, production, refining, distribution and marketing of petroleum products and the manufacture and sale of petrochemicals. Its operations span the full energy value chain, including upstream exploration and development of crude oil and natural gas; midstream transportation and storage; and downstream refining, product distribution and retail. The company also produces a broad range of chemical products for industrial and consumer applications.

ExxonMobil markets fuels and lubricants under well-known brands such as Exxon, Mobil and Esso, and its Mobil 1 motor oil is a prominent consumer product.