ExxonMobil Corporation $XOM Stock: Middleton & Co. Inc. MA Cuts Position

Middleton & Co. Inc. MA reduced its stake in ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) by 5.6% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 107,476 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after selling 6,345 shares during the period. ExxonMobil comprises approximately 1.9% of Middleton & Co. Inc. MA’s holdings, making the stock its 14th largest position. Middleton & Co. Inc. MA’s holdings in ExxonMobil were worth $17,492,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in ExxonMobil by 5.7% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 28,364,314 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $4,812,790,000 after buying an additional 1,540,902 shares during the last quarter. Amundi boosted its stake in ExxonMobil by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 24,511,156 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $4,158,563,000 after purchasing an additional 1,192,386 shares during the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 153.3% in the 2nd quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 16,877,523 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $2,307,497,000 after purchasing an additional 10,214,420 shares in the last quarter. Swiss National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of ExxonMobil by 5.9% during the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 12,376,418 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $2,099,783,000 after purchasing an additional 693,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service boosted its position in shares of ExxonMobil by 1.8% during the second quarter. National Pension Service now owns 9,664,021 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $1,321,265,000 after buying an additional 166,268 shares during the last quarter. 61.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

ExxonMobil Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of XOM stock opened at $184.41 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The company has a market cap of $764.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.73, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.21. ExxonMobil Corporation has a 1 year low of $112.51 and a 1 year high of $184.59. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $165.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $152.82.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.52 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.56 by ($0.04). ExxonMobil had a return on equity of 13.14% and a net margin of 8.88%. The company had revenue of $114.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.94 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.64 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that ExxonMobil Corporation will post 13.63 earnings per share for the current year.

ExxonMobil Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 17th were issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 17th. ExxonMobil’s payout ratio is currently 53.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on XOM shares. Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of ExxonMobil from $158.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Zacks Research upgraded shares of ExxonMobil from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 19th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of ExxonMobil from $184.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 17th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of ExxonMobil from $168.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, September 28th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane cut their target price on shares of ExxonMobil from $165.00 to $155.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $167.70.

Trending Headlines about ExxonMobil

Here are the key news stories impacting ExxonMobil this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil’s refining business is expected to provide an approximately $4.5 billion earnings boost, potentially offsetting weaker results from lower crude prices. Investors are focused on whether this refining windfall will drive a strong third quarter. Can Exxon’s $4.5 Billion Refining Windfall Defy Dropping Crude Prices on Oct. 30?
• Positive Sentiment: Exchange-traded funds purchased about $1.41 billion of XOM on October 22, signaling strong institutional demand and helping support the stock’s recent advance. ETFs Bought $1.41 Billion of ExxonMobil
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and value-investing commentary continue to highlight ExxonMobil’s scale, balance sheet, valuation and shareholder-return potential, supporting the view that XOM can remain attractive for long-term investors. Why Exxon Mobil Holdings Is a Top Value Stock for the Long-Term
• Positive Sentiment: ExxonMobil’s stock recently reached a record close amid elevated Brent crude prices, reinforcing momentum in the energy sector. ExxonMobil Stock Hit a Record Close
• Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group raised its earnings estimates for ExxonMobil, while the broader market enters a volatile week dominated by major earnings reports, economic data and an upcoming Federal Reserve meeting. Erste Group Bank Boosts Earnings Estimates for ExxonMobil
• Negative Sentiment: Persian Gulf oil exports have reportedly recovered above pre-conflict levels, and hopes that the Iran conflict is easing have pushed Brent crude lower. Increased supply and falling oil prices could pressure ExxonMobil’s upstream earnings and challenge its recent rally. Gulf Oil Is Roaring Back as Exxon Heads Into Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: With XOM trading near record levels and one valuation estimate below the current price, investors may require a strong earnings beat or favorable guidance to justify additional gains. Higher Treasury-bill yields also make dividend stocks relatively less attractive for income-focused investors. T-Bills Yield Up to 4.45% and Dividend Stocks

About ExxonMobil

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.