Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Shares Down 0.2% - Here's Why

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) experienced a slight decrease in its share price of 0.2% during trading on Wednesday, bringing it down to $108.94. The stock touched a low of $108.42 and closed at $109.16 the previous day. In total, about 2,663,198 shares were traded, a significant decline of 82% compared to the average trading volume of 14,945,383 shares.

Recent Analyst Ratings

Analysts have been adjusting their ratings and price targets for Exxon Mobil. TD Cowen revised its price target for the company from $132.00 to $128.00 while maintaining a 'buy' rating in a report on December 16. Additionally, Wells Fargo lowered its target from $136.00 to $135.00, also keeping an 'overweight' rating. Morgan Stanley increased its price target from $139.00 to $140.00. Argus upgraded Exxon Mobil's rating to 'strong-buy.' However, HSBC cut its target price from $125.00 to $123.00 and set a 'hold' rating. Currently, the consensus among analysts provides Exxon Mobil with a 'Moderate Buy' rating and an average price target of $129.25.

Exxon Mobil's Market Performance

The company's market capitalization stands at approximately $473.41 billion. Its price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is 13.86, while its price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio is 3.02, with a beta value of 0.83. The stock's 50-day moving average is around $109.26, and its 200-day moving average sits at $113.73. Further, Exxon Mobil reports a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.97, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

Earnings Overview

On January 31, Exxon Mobil released its quarterly earnings results, reporting $1.67 earnings per share (EPS), which fell short of the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.10. The company's return on equity was 12.92%, and it posted a net margin of 9.63%. For the previous year, Exxon Mobil had an EPS of $2.48. Analysts forecast that the company will achieve an EPS of $7.43 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Declaration

Recently, Exxon Mobil announced a quarterly dividend of $0.99 per share, which was paid on March 10 to shareholders recorded as of February 12. The annualized dividend amounts to $3.96, resulting in a yield of 3.63%. With a dividend payout ratio (DPR) currently at 50.51%, the company aims to provide consistent returns to its investors.

Insider Activity

In insider news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,100 shares of Exxon Mobil on February 4 at an average price of $110.00, totaling a value of $231,000.00. Following this transaction, Talley owns approximately 18,087 shares of the company, valued at about $1,989,570, which reflects a 10.40% decrease in his ownership. Corporate insiders hold 0.03% of the company's stock.

Institutional Ownership

Several hedge funds have either increased or decreased their stakes in Exxon Mobil. For example, Principal Financial Group grew its stake by 8.4% in Q3, acquiring an additional 521,932 shares worth $786.5 million. United Bank also raised its stake by 3.7% and now owns 17,920 shares valued at $2.1 million. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp increased its stake by 10.3% during the same quarter. Overall, institutional investors account for 61.80% of Exxon Mobil's stock ownership.

Company Profile

Exxon Mobil Corporation is engaged in exploring and producing crude oil and natural gas on a global scale. The company segments include Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products, with the Upstream segment focusing on exploration and production activities.

Investment Consideration

For investors considering whether to hold or sell Exxon Mobil shares, it's essential to evaluate market conditions and analyst recommendations. Currently, while the consensus rating suggests a 'Moderate Buy,' there might be alternatives in the market that could offer better returns. Investors are advised to conduct further research before making any decisions.

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