Welcome to February 2026, where the primary driver of global equity valuation isn’t the Federal Reserve’s dot plot or quarterly earnings reports, but rather the notification bell on a specific social media platform. As of February 18, 2026, the “Trump Trade” has evolved from a speculative bet into a full-contact sport, leaving analysts at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to spend their mornings deciphering the macroeconomic implications of 3:00 AM posts written in all-caps. It is a truly efficient market, p ...

Core Viewpoint - Exxon Mobil is committed to rapidly developing natural gas projects in Guyana, responding to the government's push for increased gas output and supply [1] Group 1: Company Commitment and Plans - Exxon Mobil's upstream chief, Dan Ammann, emphasized the company's commitment to fast-tracking natural gas development in Guyana [1] - The Guyanese government has urged Exxon to create projects utilizing natural gas for petrochemical plants and potential data centers [1] - Last year, Exxon introduced the "Wales Gas Vision," an early-stage plan aimed at supplying gas for various onshore petrochemical and power projects, although progress has been limited since then [1] Group 2: Project Complexity and Collaboration - Ammann noted that natural gas projects are more complex than oil projects, necessitating collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including public utilities, communities, and regulators [1] - Exxon has constructed a pipeline ready to deliver gas to Guyana, awaiting the completion of power plants scheduled for this year [1] - The company is prepared to advance engineering, execution, and investment in alignment with the government's progress on permitting approvals and market frameworks [1]

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Exxon Mobil.Looking at options history for Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) we detected 58 trades.If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 41% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 53% with bearish.From the overall spotted trades, 19 are puts, for a total amount of $1,388,724 and 39, calls, for a total amount of $2,710,117.Predicted Price RangeBased on the trading activity, it appears t ...

SPRING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) today announced Jack Williams, Senior Vice President, will conduct a fireside chat at the Morgan Stanley Energy & Power Conference in New York on March 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. ET. To access the live webcast, visit the event page. An archived audio portion of the webcast will be available on the ExxonMobil website approximately 24 hours after the event. About ExxonMobil ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded internati. ...

Core Viewpoint - Pacer US Cash Cows 100 ETF (COWZ) has outperformed the S&P 500 significantly, reflecting a shift towards profitable, cash-generative businesses amid concerns over high technology valuations and concentration risk [1] Performance Summary - COWZ surged 7% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500 by nearly 20 percentage points over five years [1] - The ETF has $18.3 billion in assets under management and a low portfolio turnover of 1.51% [1] Investment Strategy - COWZ screens the Russell 1000 for the 100 stocks with the highest free cash flow yield, holding them in equal weight, which emphasizes a quality value strategy [1] - The focus on strong free cash flow allows companies to fund dividends, buy back shares, pay down debt, or reinvest for growth without relying on external financing [1] Sector Allocation - The ETF's holdings are concentrated in healthcare (22.3%) and energy (18%), sectors known for mature businesses with established revenue streams [1] - This cash flow focus leads to a portfolio that is less speculative and more aligned with current market conditions [1] Market Context - The shift in investor preference from unprofitable growth companies to those with proven profitability is attributed to the Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes, making capital more expensive [1] - COWZ's strategy positions it well in a high-interest-rate environment, as companies generating cash internally gain a competitive advantage [1] Cost and Yield - COWZ charges a 0.49% expense ratio, which is reasonable for an actively managed strategy, though it is higher than broad market ETFs [1] - The fund offers a 1.8% dividend yield, which requires significant equity appreciation to justify the yield gap compared to 10-year Treasuries yielding 4.09% [1] Risk Considerations - The concentration in energy and healthcare sectors may lead to volatility, particularly with fluctuations in oil prices [1] - Investors should consider the total return profile of COWZ, as its cash flow methodology and equal-weight approach create specific risk-return characteristics [1]

Australian court fines Exxon's local petrol brand $11.3 million for misleading claims | ReutersSkip to main content[Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionalsLearn more aboutRefinitiv]The logo of American multinational oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil is seen during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren [Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab]- Companies[Exxon Mobil Corp]FollowFeb 17 (Reuters) - Federal Cour ...

Group 1: Mobil Oil Australia - Mobil Oil Australia, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, has been ordered to pay A$16 million in penalties due to misleading representations regarding fuel sold at nine petrol stations in Queensland [2][10] - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission confirmed that the company admitted liability and cooperated with the legal proceedings, which led to joint submissions to the court [3][10] Group 2: Japanese Bond Market - The yield on the 20-year Japanese Government Bond eased to 3.03%, marking a decline of 5 basis points, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [4][10] - This easing suggests a temporary cooling of the upward pressure in the Japanese bond market as the Bank of Japan navigates its monetary policy amidst changing global interest rate expectations [5] Group 3: Commodity Markets - Agricultural commodities, particularly soybean and wheat, are experiencing a downward trend due to abundant global supplies that have outpaced demand, leading to increased inventories [6][10] - The surplus production from major exporting regions is causing difficulties in sustaining significant price rallies, with expectations of continued volatility and downward pressure on the grain complex [7]

Core Viewpoint - The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) has increased by 21.6% year-to-date, driven by energy security concerns and the ability of major oil companies to manage volatile crude prices [1] Group 1: ETF Performance - XLE's portfolio, valued at $33 billion, is heavily influenced by Exxon (XOM) and Chevron (CVX), which together account for 42.5% of the fund [1] - The recent performance reflects investor confidence in the ability of these oil majors to deliver returns despite unpredictable commodity markets [1] Group 2: Oil Price Dynamics - WTI crude prices have risen by 9.1% over the past month, reaching $64.53 per barrel, which supports profitability for integrated majors [1] - Factors preventing a drop in prices below $50 include China's strategic reserve buying, geopolitical supply risks, and stronger-than-expected summer demand [1] Group 3: Earnings and Cash Flow - Both Exxon and Chevron reported earnings declines due to lower oil prices, but Exxon still achieved a net income of $6.5 billion [1] - Analysts believe that these companies can sustain dividends and capital programs even if oil prices fall to $50 per barrel, thanks to low-cost assets in the Permian Basin and offshore Guyana [1] Group 4: Concentration Risk - The concentration of XLE in Exxon and Chevron means their quarterly results significantly impact the fund's overall performance [1] - The fund's low portfolio turnover of 10% indicates that this concentration is a persistent feature rather than a temporary positioning [1] Group 5: Future Outlook - The critical factor for the next 12 months is whether WTI crude can stabilize above $60 or if it will decline further [1] - The ability of Exxon and Chevron to maintain cash returns to shareholders amid compressed margins will be a key signal for investors [1]

Energy companies are generating some of the strongest cash flows in the market — yet their valuations still reflect recession-level pessimism.The S&P 500 Energy sector currently trades at roughly 12.5x forward earnings, compared to about 21x for the broader S&P 500, according to FactSet data. At the same time, the sector is delivering superior cash returns. Yet, Exxon trades at a 20x forward earnings, and Chevron at roughly 24x, according to Benzinga Pro data.Despite this, energy remains one of the smallest ...

Market Overview - The US stock market experienced a significant decline, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 669.42 points (1.34%) to close at 49,451.98 points, the Nasdaq Composite falling 469.32 points (2.03%) to 22,597.15 points, and the S&P 500 decreasing by 108.71 points (1.57%) to 6,832.76 points [1][2][3] Market Sentiment - Over 4,100 stocks declined, indicating widespread market panic as investors rushed to sell assets, particularly in the tech and growth sectors. The VIX index surged, reflecting heightened risk aversion [2][3] Sector Performance - The sell-off affected nearly all sectors, with notable declines in precious metals and semiconductor stocks. The precious metals sector saw significant drops, with gold futures down 3.08% and silver futures plummeting 10.62% [4][5][6][8] - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell by 2.5%, with individual stocks like AEHR Test Systems down 17.58% and Intel down over 3% [8][10] Major Companies - Apple Inc. experienced a substantial drop of 5.00%, resulting in a market cap loss of over $120 billion, attributed partly to regulatory concerns [12] - Other major tech companies also faced declines, with Tesla down 1.62%, Amazon down 2.20%, and Meta Platforms down nearly 3% [12] Financial Sector - Bank stocks fell across the board, with JPMorgan Chase down over 2%, Goldman Sachs down over 4%, and Citigroup down over 5%, driven by concerns over AI disrupting traditional wealth management [13][14] Economic Indicators - Recent economic data, including a drop in initial jobless claims and lower-than-expected existing home sales, contributed to market anxiety about potential economic overheating and prolonged high interest rates [24][25][26] Global Market Impact - The sell-off in the US markets had a ripple effect on global markets, with European indices also closing lower after initially opening higher, indicating a widespread sentiment of fear [18][19][20] AI Concerns - The market's decline was exacerbated by fears regarding the disruptive impact of AI technologies on various industries, leading to significant stock price drops in sectors perceived to be at risk [21][22][30] Storage Chip Sector - In contrast to the overall market trend, storage chip stocks saw gains, with companies like SanDisk and Seagate Technology rising significantly, reflecting a belief that AI's growth will increase demand for data storage [29]