ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) Stock Price Down 4.5% Following Analyst Downgrade

ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)’s share price fell 4.5% during trading on Wednesday after DZ Bank downgraded the stock from a hold rating to a sell rating. DZ Bank now has a $170.00 price target on the stock. ExxonMobil traded as low as $167.39 and last traded at $169.5170. 25,170,445 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 42% from the average daily volume of 17,698,039 shares. The stock had previously closed at $177.46.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of ExxonMobil from $185.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday. TD Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 28th. Bank of America lowered shares of ExxonMobil from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $154.00 to $158.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Freedom Capital upgraded ExxonMobil from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on ExxonMobil from $177.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, ExxonMobil has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $170.74.

Trending Headlines about ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: TD Cowen raised its price target to $193 from $180 and reiterated a Buy rating, signaling potential upside in the firm’s view. Tickerreport article
• Positive Sentiment: Exxon reported strong Q3 earnings, supported by refining performance and cost discipline, and highlighted cash returns through a higher dividend and a larger share-repurchase authorization. These results and capital returns may help underpin investor confidence. Earnings reaction article
• Positive Sentiment: Exxon plans to invest $10 billion in refining through 2030, including a diesel-output expansion intended to improve efficiency and cash generation. The potential benefit is longer term and depends on execution and refining margins. Diesel expansion article
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports noted continued dividend growth and strong cash generation, but also raised the question of whether the stock’s valuation already reflects much of its positive outlook. Valuation article
• Negative Sentiment: DZ Bank cut its rating from Hold to Sell, setting a $170 target—close to the quoted share price—providing a bearish counterpoint to TD Cowen’s upgrade.
• Negative Sentiment: A report of unsold Nigerian crude cargoes suggested physical oil demand may be easing, a potential headwind if softer demand pressures commodity prices and upstream earnings. Physical oil market article

Hedge Funds Weigh In On ExxonMobil

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc increased its position in shares of ExxonMobil by 25.0% in the third quarter. AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc now owns 427,824 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $69,628,000 after buying an additional 85,637 shares in the last quarter. Creekside Partners purchased a new position in shares of ExxonMobil during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $227,000. Vestor Capital LLC raised its position in ExxonMobil by 12.2% during the third quarter. Vestor Capital LLC now owns 1,613 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $263,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC raised its position in ExxonMobil by 87.7% during the third quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 16,087 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,618,000 after acquiring an additional 7,516 shares during the period. Finally, AlphaCore Capital LLC raised its position in ExxonMobil by 132,856.0% during the third quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 132,956 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $21,639,000 after acquiring an additional 132,856 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

ExxonMobil Trading Down 4.5%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $702.64 billion, a PE ratio of 17.42, a P/E/G ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.16. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $168.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $154.86.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 30th. The oil and gas company reported $4.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.12 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $110.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $104.89 billion. ExxonMobil had a net margin of 10.24% and a return on equity of 16.63%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.88 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 13.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

ExxonMobil Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 16th will be paid a $1.07 dividend. This is a boost from ExxonMobil’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.03. This represents a $4.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, November 16th. ExxonMobil’s dividend payout ratio is presently 42.34%.

ExxonMobil Company Profile

Exxon Mobil Corporation, doing business as ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), is an integrated energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas. Its operations span the energy value chain, from resource development and refining to the marketing and distribution of fuels and other energy products.

Through its Energy Products segment, ExxonMobil manufactures and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, and other petroleum-based products. Its Chemical Products business produces petrochemicals, including commodity and performance products used in packaging, automotive components, construction materials, and consumer goods.