Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Shares Up 2% – Should You Buy?

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) shares shot up 2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $127.14 and last traded at $126.47. 21,429,704 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 7% from the average session volume of 20,101,994 shares. The stock had previously closed at $124.03.

Exxon Mobil News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Oil prices have rallied back above key levels, supporting higher revenue/earnings expectations for large integrated oil names like Exxon. Oil Is Surging Over $60 – Grab These Large Cap High-Yield Dividend Energy Giants Now
• Positive Sentiment: Shares hit a fresh high amid investor focus on Exxon’s positioning and the White House Venezuela initiative — the market reaction has been constructive even as political rhetoric escalates. Exxon Mobil’s stock hits a new high. Its CEO’s call on Venezuela may be helping.
• Positive Sentiment: Research houses have recently lifted estimates for Exxon, which can underpin investor confidence ahead of earnings. Zacks Research Raises Earnings Estimates for Exxon Mobil
• Neutral Sentiment: ExxonMobil confirmed its fourth-quarter 2025 results will be released on Jan. 30, giving investors a near-term event to reprice the stock on actual results. ExxonMobil to Release Fourth Quarter 2025 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Company sources say Exxon remains interested in an assessment visit to Venezuela despite President Trump’s public rebuke, signaling management still sees the long-term potential even if access is politically uncertain. Exxon Mobil still interested in Venezuela visit despite Trump rebuke
• Negative Sentiment: President Trump said he may exclude Exxon from Venezuela investments after CEO Darren Woods called the country “uninvestable,” creating a material geopolitical/policy risk to any Venezuelan upside for Exxon. Trump says he might keep Exxon out of Venezuela
• Negative Sentiment: Exxon warned its Q4 earnings will be lower due to a fall in global crude prices, which is a direct near-term drag on reported profits and could temper upside if Q4 results miss expectations. Exxon Mobil (XOM) Forecasts Lower Q4 Earnings Due to Decline in Crude Prices

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on XOM shares. Cowen restated a “buy” rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a report on Friday, December 12th. Scotiabank reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Monday, November 3rd. 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 report on Friday, December 12th. Bank of America lowered their target price on Exxon Mobil from $119.00 to $118.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research report on Monday, December 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $130.25.

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $533.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.38, a PEG ratio of 7.77 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The company has a 50 day moving average of $118.25 and a 200 day moving average of $114.05.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, June 17th. The oil and gas company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 8.99%.The company had revenue of $57.55 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 14th were issued a $1.03 dividend. This is a boost from Exxon Mobil’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.99. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. Exxon Mobil’s dividend payout ratio is currently 59.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 28,584 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,349,758.96. This trade represents a 9.50% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.03% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Exxon Mobil

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Shearwater Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Exxon Mobil during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $208,000. Sharkey Howes & Javer raised its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 11.4% during the 4th quarter. Sharkey Howes & Javer now owns 3,821 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $460,000 after acquiring an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH lifted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 2,092,633 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $251,827,000 after purchasing an additional 18,394 shares during the last quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI boosted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 5.0% in the fourth quarter. Parsons Capital Management Inc. RI now owns 260,766 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $31,381,000 after purchasing an additional 12,317 shares during the period. Finally, Moulton Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Exxon Mobil by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Moulton Wealth Management Inc. now owns 13,424 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,646,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.80% of the company’s stock.

About Exxon Mobil

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.