Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Shares Down 3.3% After Analyst Downgrade

Shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) dropped 3.3% on Tuesday after Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price target on the stock from $142.00 to $137.00. Sanford C. Bernstein currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Exxon Mobil traded as low as $121.00 and last traded at $121.1990. Approximately 23,270,482 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 3% from the average daily volume of 22,512,580 shares. The stock had previously closed at $125.36.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Exxon Mobil from $156.00 to $158.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $135.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. TD Cowen upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $128.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, December 12th. Zacks Research lowered Exxon Mobil from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 1st. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $127.00 to $126.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $129.81.

Insider Transactions at Exxon Mobil

In related news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $117.19, for a total transaction of $351,570.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 28,584 shares in the company, valued at $3,349,758.96. This trade represents a 9.50% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Exxon Mobil News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Exxon Mobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Bernstein kept a buy/outperform stance on Exxon, reaffirming investor confidence in the company’s fundamentals and cash-return story, which should limit downside over the medium term. Bernstein Keeps Their Buy Rating on Exxon Mobil (XOM)
• Positive Sentiment: Energy-sector momentum from U.S. policy shifts on Venezuela boosted XOM and the XLE ETF, keeping a bullish technical breakout scenario alive if key resistance is cleared. 3 Energy Plays to Watch as the Sector Reacts to New Developments
• Neutral Sentiment: Sanford C. Bernstein trimmed its price target (from $142 to $137) but still rates Exxon outperform — a mixed signal that reduces some upside while keeping analyst support intact. Exxon Mobil price target lowered by Bernstein
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage and commentary note a shifting narrative toward cash returns and sector caution; analysts say Exxon’s story is evolving, which could keep trading choppy as expectations reprice. Why Analysts See The Exxon Mobil (XOM) Story Shifting
• Negative Sentiment: Freedom Capital downgraded Exxon to a sell from hold — an immediate negative catalyst that likely pressured the stock today by increasing perceived near-term downside risk. Exxon Mobil downgraded to sell from hold at Freedom Capital
• Negative Sentiment: Heightened negative commentary and calls to sell (e.g., 247wallst) and comparisons that favor Chevron on Venezuela exposure are adding rotation risk away from Exxon. Sell Exxon Stock Immediately
• Negative Sentiment: A newly announced class action (Portnoy Law Firm) raises legal overhang and could weigh on sentiment until resolved. Portnoy Law Firm Announces Class Action on Behalf of Exxon Mobil Investors

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of XOM. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC boosted its position in Exxon Mobil by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Ipsen Advisor Group LLC now owns 5,647 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $637,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC raised its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 1.6% in the third quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC now owns 5,794 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $653,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Axis Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.8% during the second quarter. Axis Wealth Partners LLC now owns 5,056 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $545,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Sagace Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sagace Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,445 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $388,000 after buying an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Park Edge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Park Edge Advisors LLC now owns 32,031 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $3,453,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. 61.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

The firm’s 50 day moving average is $117.52 and its 200 day moving average is $113.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.14. The stock has a market cap of $511.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.56 and a beta of 0.37.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) last announced its earnings results on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 8.99%.The firm had revenue of $57.55 billion for the quarter. Analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $1.03 dividend. This is an increase from Exxon Mobil’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. Exxon Mobil’s dividend payout ratio is 59.88%.

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

Exxon Mobil 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.