Blackstone Inc. - Blackstone reported fourth-quarter distributable earnings per share of $1.75, a 4% increase year-over-year, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.53 [2] - Distributable earnings rose 3% year-over-year to $2.24 billion for the quarter [2] - Segment revenues were reported at $3.94 billion, down 5% year-over-year, but still beating the analyst consensus estimate of $3.72 billion [2] - Blackstone shares fell 2.6% to close at $142.94 on Thursday [6] International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) - IBM reported fourth-quarter revenue of $19.69 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $19.23 billion [3] - The company reported adjusted earnings of $4.52 per share, beating analyst estimates of $4.32 per share [3] Cisco Systems, Inc. - Cisco Systems was upgraded from In-Line to Outperform by Evercore ISI Group analyst Amit Daryanani, with a price target increase from $80 to $100 [4] - Cisco shares fell 0.7% to close at $78.43 on Thursday [6] Exxon Mobil Corporation - Exxon Mobil reported quarterly earnings of $1.71 per share, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 [5] - The company posted revenue of $82.3 billion, surpassing the estimate of $81.47 billion [5] - Exxon Mobil shares rose 2.1% to settle at $140.51 [6]

Market Movements - US stock index futures are all down, with Dow futures down 0.32%, S&P 500 futures down 0.37%, and Nasdaq futures down 0.49% [1] - European indices show positive movement, with Germany's DAX up 1.04%, UK's FTSE 100 up 0.45%, France's CAC40 up 0.76%, and the Euro Stoxx 50 up 1.04% [2][3] - WTI crude oil is down 0.61% at $65.02 per barrel, while Brent crude oil is down 0.73% at $69.08 per barrel [3][4] Market News - Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh for the Federal Reserve chair may face hurdles due to ongoing investigations, with some Republican senators indicating they will block nominations until legal issues are resolved [5] - The financial market perceives Warsh as a more hawkish candidate compared to current chair Powell, potentially leading to tighter monetary policies [5] - Gold and silver prices have seen significant declines, with gold dropping over 5% to $5,099 per ounce and silver down over 12% to $101.4 per ounce, raising concerns about the sustainability of recent price increases [6] - The temporary agreement between Trump and Senate Democrats aims to prevent a government shutdown, although further negotiations are ongoing [6] Investment Strategies - Bank of America indicates that global stock markets are flashing sell signals, with 89% of MSCI stock index prices above their 50-day and 200-day moving averages, surpassing the 88% threshold considered a sell signal [7] - Jeff Gundlach, known as the "new bond king," advises avoiding the US market due to high inflation and a weakening dollar, recommending a 30%-40% allocation to non-US stocks, particularly emerging markets [8] Company News - Apple reported record Q1 earnings of $143.8 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase, driven by a 23% increase in iPhone revenue to $85.3 billion, with significant growth in the Greater China region [9] - Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a partnership with Google to develop a more personalized Siri, while also warning of supply constraints due to 3nm chip production limitations [10] - Sandisk's Q2 revenue is projected to grow 61.2% to $3.03 billion, exceeding market expectations, with a strong performance in data center and consumer segments [11] - Western Digital reported a 25% increase in revenue to $3.02 billion, with net profit surging 296%, driven by AI infrastructure demand [12] - KLA Corporation's Q2 revenue grew 7.2% to $3.3 billion, benefiting from AI infrastructure expansion, but concerns about valuation risks have emerged [13] - Visa's Q1 adjusted earnings were $3.17 per share, a 15% increase, with total payment volume reaching $3.87 trillion, exceeding expectations [14] - ExxonMobil's Q4 adjusted net profit was $1.71 per share, driven by increased oil production and refining margins, while Chevron's Q4 adjusted earnings were $1.52 per share, with plans for production growth [15][16] - Coterra Energy and Devon Energy are reportedly in talks for a potential merger, which could be one of the largest oil and gas deals in recent years [17]

Despite President Donald Trump‘s call for increased investment in Venezuela, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has decided to maintain its current level of capital spending in the country, the U.S. oil major’s finance chief told the Financial Times on Friday. Chevron Continues To Engage With The AdministrationEimear Bonner said the company will not be increasing its capital spending in Venezuela this year. Bonner added that the company is currently producing 250,000 barrels a day and saw the potential to grow ...

Both Chevron and Exxon Mobil both said production of oil and gas reached historic levels, but also saw profit and revenue decline as energy prices fell. ...

Core Viewpoint - ExxonMobil reported fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed Wall Street expectations despite a significant annual decline in oil prices due to oversupply [1][4]. Financial Performance - Earnings per share for the fourth quarter were $1.71, adjusted, compared to the expected $1.68 [4]. - Revenue for the quarter was $82.31 billion, exceeding the anticipated $81.43 billion [4]. Industry Context - The results were released amid pressure from President Donald Trump for the oil industry to re-engage with Venezuela following the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro [2]. - CEO Darren Woods indicated that Venezuela is currently "uninvestable" and would require substantial changes for Exxon to consider returning [2].

Group 1 - Exxon Mobil exceeded Wall Street expectations in fourth-quarter earnings, driven by lower-cost oil production in the Permian Basin and Guyana [1] - The company is recognized as the number one oil producer in the U.S. [1]

Group 1 - Shares of both companies have risen over the past year [1] - U.S. oil prices are projected to end 2025 down 20% a barrel [1]

Core Insights - Exxon Mobil Corporation reported a decline in earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the third quarter of 2025, with earnings dropping from $7,548 million to $6,501 million, a decrease of $1,047 million [1] - The company's earnings for the full year 2025 were $28,844 million, down from $33,680 million in 2024, reflecting a decrease of $4,836 million [1] - Earnings per common share also saw a decline, with a reported $1.53 for Q4 2025 compared to $1.76 in Q3 2025, a drop of $0.23 [1] Financial Performance - Earnings excluding identified items (non-GAAP) for Q4 2025 were $7,256 million, down from $8,058 million in Q3 2025, a decrease of $802 million [1] - For the full year 2025, earnings excluding identified items were $30,109 million, compared to $33,464 million in 2024, a decline of $3,355 million [1] - Earnings per common share excluding identified items (non-GAAP) were $1.71 for Q4 2025, down from $1.88 in Q3 2025, a decrease of $0.17 [1]

Core Insights - Exxon Mobil Corporation is set to announce its financial results for Q4 2025 on January 30, before market opening [1] Financial Expectations - Market expectations are reflected by the Zacks Consensus Estimate, indicating investor sentiment regarding the company's performance [1]

Core Viewpoint - Exxon Mobil Corporation is a leading player in the energy sector, focusing on exploration, production, and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and petrochemicals, with a strategic emphasis on long-term growth and shareholder returns [1][4]. Price Target Summary - The consensus price target for Exxon Mobil has decreased from $142.56 to $138.25 over the past month, indicating a shift in analysts' optimism, although it remains relatively stable compared to a year ago at $137.11 [2][5]. Earnings and Market Sensitivity - Exxon Mobil's stock is influenced by oil price fluctuations, regulatory changes, and earnings reports, with upcoming fourth-quarter earnings expected to be challenged by softer crude prices impacting upstream earnings, but gains in refining and long-term asset value are anticipated to provide a positive outlook [3][4]. Future Projections - The company is projecting significant earnings and cash flow growth by 2030, which supports ongoing dividend increases and aligns with its strategic shift towards molecule management, carbon capture, and lithium, despite a recent downgrade from 'Buy' to 'Hold' by Morgan Stanley [4][5].