ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Shares Down 1.3% – Here’s What Happened

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) traded down 1.3% during trading on Thursday. The company traded as low as $173.60 and last traded at $174.7020. Approximately 11,195,117 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 38% from the average daily volume of 17,984,707 shares. The stock had previously closed at $177.01.

More ExxonMobil News

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Refining margins are providing a major earnings boost. ExxonMobil expects higher refining margins to increase third-quarter Energy Products earnings by approximately $4.5 billion compared with the second quarter. Strong refining performance more than offset weakness in other segments, highlighting the benefit of ExxonMobil’s integrated operations. ExxonMobil’s Refining Profits Are Set to Jump $4.5 Billion
• Positive Sentiment: Growth projects continue to improve ExxonMobil’s long-term outlook. Production milestones in Guyana and the Permian Basin are moving key projects toward free-cash-flow generation. Guyana’s expanding production and additional offshore capacity could support future earnings and capital recovery. Production Milestones Could Be a Key Catalyst
• Positive Sentiment: Financial flexibility supports investor confidence. ExxonMobil’s low debt load and strong balance sheet provide protection against oil-price volatility and support capital investment, acquisitions and shareholder returns. Morgan Stanley also raised its price target from $177 to $185 and maintained an “overweight” rating. ExxonMobil’s Strong Balance Sheet Offers Cushion
• Neutral Sentiment: Investors are awaiting confirmed quarterly results. ExxonMobil will release its third-quarter 2026 results on October 30. Management’s report will clarify how much of the preliminary refining gain flowed through to total earnings and cash flow. ExxonMobil to Release Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Negative Sentiment: Upstream conditions remain a headwind. Changes in oil prices are expected to reduce upstream earnings, with reports indicating a potential roughly $1.3 billion impact. Consequently, the overall third-quarter result may be lower even with the refining improvement. ExxonMobil Signals Lower Third-Quarter Earnings

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on XOM shares. Barclays reduced their target price on ExxonMobil from $182.00 to $177.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 17th. Mizuho decreased their target price on ExxonMobil from $175.00 to $170.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Bank of America downgraded ExxonMobil from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their price target for the company from $154.00 to $158.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on ExxonMobil from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of ExxonMobil from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 29th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and fourteen have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $165.13.

ExxonMobil Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $742.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.04, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 0.21. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $163.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $154.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

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). ExxonMobil had a return on equity of 13.14% and a net margin of 8.88%. The business had revenue of $114.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.64 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 12.52 earnings per share 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 $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 17th. ExxonMobil’s payout ratio is currently 53.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ExxonMobil

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Rise Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in ExxonMobil by 10.3% in the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 11,670 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,899,000 after purchasing an additional 1,088 shares during the period. James T. Borello RIA grew its position in ExxonMobil by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter. James T. Borello RIA now owns 3,453 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $562,000 after purchasing an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its position in ExxonMobil by 206.8% in the 3rd quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 7,452 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $1,213,000 after purchasing an additional 5,023 shares during the last quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC increased its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC now owns 51,874 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $8,442,000 after purchasing an additional 896 shares during the period. Finally, jvl associates llc increased its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. jvl associates llc now owns 2,862 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $466,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.