ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Sets New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday. The company traded as high as $176.62 and last traded at $176.8820, with a volume of 4,684,832 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $174.08.

Trending Headlines about ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Rating upgraded to Buy: Zacks raised ExxonMobil to Rank #2 (Buy), citing improving earnings prospects. The upgrade provides a near-term sentiment boost. Zacks ExxonMobil rating upgrade
• Positive Sentiment: Higher profit forecasts: Erste Group Bank raised its ExxonMobil 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 broader $12.40 consensus, signaling stronger expected earnings. MarketBeat ExxonMobil analyst estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Oil-price leverage: Crude prices above $90 per barrel could support ExxonMobil’s cash flow, particularly through its low-cost Permian and Guyana production. Its integrated model and diversified operations also support dividend resilience when oil prices weaken. Elevated crude prices and ExxonMobil cash flows
• Positive Sentiment: Chemicals rebound: Chemical earnings climbed sharply from $110 million in the first quarter to $1.13 billion in the second quarter, helped by North American feedstock advantages. This demonstrates the benefit of ExxonMobil’s integrated business model, despite lower sales volumes. ExxonMobil chemical recovery
• Neutral Sentiment: Strategic and competitive focus: ExxonMobil’s 8.9% net margin exceeds Chevron’s 6.7%, although Chevron’s Guyana expansion could intensify competition. Management’s shifting emphasis away from the Pioneer acquisition also raises questions about future growth priorities. Chevron versus ExxonMobil
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation and execution risks: ExxonMobil trades at roughly market-level earnings multiples after a strong multi-year rally, while some forecasts point to shrinking earnings. Questions also surround Kashagan exposure and whether Guyana LNG plans may be scaled back as Exxon needs more gas for its wells. Guyana LNG plans and ExxonMobil

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on XOM. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $175.00 price objective (up from $150.00) on shares of ExxonMobil in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Argus raised their target price on ExxonMobil from $169.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Freedom Capital upgraded ExxonMobil from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $164.78.

ExxonMobil Trading Up 1.7%

The stock has a market capitalization of $734.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 0.21. 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 fifty day simple moving average of $162.41 and a 200 day simple moving average of $154.31.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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). The business had revenue of $114.53 billion during 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 period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.64 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 12.40 EPS for the current year.

ExxonMobil Announces Dividend

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Aventus Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of ExxonMobil in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. Portus Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ExxonMobil in the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. Atlantic Private Wealth LLC lifted its stake in ExxonMobil by 776.9% during the first quarter. Atlantic Private Wealth LLC now owns 228 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Hyposwiss Advisors SA purchased a new position in ExxonMobil during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Financial Connections Group Inc. acquired a new position in ExxonMobil in the 1st quarter valued at about $53,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 61.80% of the company’s stock.

About ExxonMobil

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.