Wall Street saw a rebound in risk appetite on Thursday ahead of the long Easter weekend, as President Donald Trump signaled positive momentum in trade negotiations.Speaking ahead of a scheduled meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Trump expressed strong confidence in reaching a trade agreement with the European Union. He also hinted at progress with China, stating, "We will make a good deal with China." Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that trade talks with Japan are mov ...

Core Viewpoint - Chevron and ExxonMobil are focusing on the Permian Basin as a key source of cash flow, but they are diverging in their strategies and execution [1] Group 1: Importance of Permian Basin - U.S. crude oil production is projected to reach 13.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025 and 13.6 million bpd in 2026, largely driven by the Permian Basin [2] - The Permian Basin is expected to grow by 290,000 bpd in 2025 and an additional 170,000 bpd in 2026, accounting for nearly half of the nation's oil supply [2] Group 2: Company Developments - Chevron holds 1.78 million net acres in the Delaware and Midland sub-basins, with an average daily output of 405,000 barrels of oil, 251,000 barrels of NGLs, and 1.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas in 2024 [3] - Chevron aims to reach 1 million barrels of oil-equivalent per day (BOE/d) by 2025, producing 992,000 BOE/d in Q4 2024 [4] - ExxonMobil's Permian production averaged 1.185 million BOE/d in 2024, up 570,000 from the previous year, and plans to double that to 2.3 million BOE/d by 2030 [5] Group 3: Strategy and Differentiation - Chevron employs a disciplined capital allocation model, focusing on cost control and asset returns, while also utilizing joint ventures and royalty interests [6] - ExxonMobil is focusing on scale and integration through acquisitions, with the $63 billion buyout of Pioneer Natural Resources significantly boosting its output [6] Group 4: Stock Performance and Valuation - Chevron has outperformed ExxonMobil over the past six months, despite both facing trade-related uncertainties [7] - Chevron's valuation is attractive, trading at an EV/EBITDA multiple of 5.55, compared to ExxonMobil, indicating better value for cash flow-focused investors [10] Group 5: Earnings Forecasts - Chevron's earnings are projected to decline by 2.9% in 2025 but rebound by 23.1% in 2026, while ExxonMobil is expected to see a 10.5% decline this year, with a 21.1% recovery anticipated in 2026 [9][11] - The near-term outlook for ExxonMobil remains uncertain due to integration costs and inflationary pressures [11] Group 6: Comparative Analysis - Chevron is currently better positioned than ExxonMobil, combining consistent execution with financial discipline and a clear path toward production goals [13]

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is moving closer to expanding its oil output in Guyana, as its fourth floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, One Guyana, begins the installation process offshore. This initiative, confirmed by Guyana’s maritime authority earlier this week, marks a significant step toward the rapid development of the country’s prolific Stabroek Block.Built by SBM Offshore, the One Guyana FPSO has a production capacity of 250,000 barrels per day. It departed Singapore in mid-Fe ...

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) , the U.S. oil and gas giant, has failed to find commercially feasible natural gas reserves at an exploratory well, namely Elektra-1, which was drilled offshore Cyprus earlier this year. Earlier, XOM had mentioned that it collected extensive three-dimensional (3D) seismic data and discovered several large prospects offshore Cyprus, including the Electra prospect. Based on the evaluation of the seismic data, the company stated that the Electra prospect was promising.Elektra-1 Fa ...

Economic Outlook - Economic forecasters are increasing the likelihood of a recession, with Goldman Sachs raising its probability from 20% to 45% and JPMorgan estimating nearly 80% [1] Corporate Responses to Recession - Recessions typically lead to declines in corporate profits, prompting companies to cut costs through layoffs and potentially suspend dividend payments [2] Resilient Companies - Companies like ExxonMobil and Coca-Cola are considered recession-resistant due to strong cash flows and balance sheets, having increased dividends through past recessions [3][11] ExxonMobil's Financial Strength - ExxonMobil raised its dividend by 4%, marking 42 consecutive years of increases, and plans to invest over $140 billion in capital projects through 2030, which is expected to enhance earnings capacity by $20 billion annually [5][6] - The company generated $34.4 billion in free cash flow last year, significantly exceeding its $16.7 billion dividend outlay, and maintains a low leverage ratio of 6% with a cash balance of $23.2 billion [7] Coca-Cola's Dividend Growth - Coca-Cola increased its dividend by 5.2%, extending its streak to 63 years, and expects to generate $9.5 billion in free cash flow this year, covering its $8.4 billion dividend outlay [8][9] - The company aims for organic revenue growth of 4%-6% annually, which should support mid-to-high single-digit earnings-per-share growth, positioning it well for continued dividend increases [10]

Group 1: Dividend Reliability - ExxonMobil has raised its dividend for 42 consecutive years, demonstrating resilience despite economic downturns in the oil and gas industry [3][4] - The company maintained its dividend during the 2020 economic collapse, relying on a strong balance sheet [4] Group 2: Financial Health - ExxonMobil's net total long-term debt is $14.7 billion, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-capital ratio of 12.5%, indicating reduced dependence on debt [5][6] - The company has the lowest debt-to-capital ratio among major integrated U.S. and European oil and gas companies [6] Group 3: Cost Structure and Future Outlook - ExxonMobil has improved its cost structure and technological advancements, allowing it to support dividends even if oil and gas prices decline [7] - The company has a long-term plan through 2030, expecting a cash surplus of $110 billion even at a pessimistic Brent crude price of $55 per barrel [8][9] Group 4: Competitive Advantages - ExxonMobil's diversified oil and gas production portfolio and significant refining business position it well to navigate market slowdowns [11] - The company is not reliant on a single geographic region, allowing it to capture market share during downturns [11][12] Group 5: Dividend Yield - ExxonMobil offers a dividend yield of 4%, providing a reliable source of passive income for investors [14]

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Exxon Mobil (XOM) .Exxon currently has an average brokerage recom ...

Core Insights - The ongoing U.S.-China trade war is significantly impacting oil prices, with WTI crude dropping below $60 per barrel and Brent crude falling around $62, marking the lowest levels since the pandemic [1][2] - The cumulative U.S. tariffs on China have reached 104%, raising recession fears and negatively affecting oil demand outlook, with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan increasing recession probabilities to 45% and 60% respectively [2][3] - Major oil companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Shell have seen significant stock declines, with ExxonMobil down 15.3%, Chevron down 18.7%, and Shell down 18.2% since the tariff announcement, indicating the sector's vulnerability to trade-related economic concerns [4] Oil Market Dynamics - OPEC+ has announced a production increase of 411,000 barrels per day, adding pressure to an already softening demand environment, which may force companies to reevaluate capital spending plans [6] - The mismatch between supply and demand is leading traders to expect oil prices to settle in a lower range, limiting upside potential for energy equities [7] - Integrated energy firms face challenges as upstream profitability is threatened by low oil prices, while downstream operations may benefit from cheaper crude [10][12] Strategic Implications - The current low oil price environment may align with broader economic strategies aimed at stimulating domestic manufacturing by lowering input costs, despite the negative impact on oil producers [9] - Companies may focus on cost discipline, delaying capital-intensive projects and optimizing operations to protect margins in this challenging environment [12] - The geopolitical landscape and potential supply-side interventions from OPEC+ will be critical factors influencing future market conditions [11][12]

ExxonMobil stock's potential cash flow and dividend growth make it a buy.The S&P 500 may have logged its worst quarter since 2022 in the first three months of 2025 with its 4.6% drop, but shares of ExxonMobil (XOM 0.24%) defied the odds and returned 10.6% in Q1 this year, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.ExxonMobil delivered solid numbers for 2024, generated billions of dollars in cash flows, increased its dividend for the 42nd consecutive year, and laid out plans to grow its ear ...

President Donald Trump’s recently imposed tariff has rattled the equity market. The question in everybody’s mind is whether the tariffs will be in place for an extended period. If the tariffs stick around for a while, U.S. spending across all businesses will probably take a hit in the face of increased prices. Eventually, there will be a contraction in the American economy. If there is a slowdown, then energy demand will go down, which could weigh heavily on the business performance of most energy companies ...