Exxon Mobil (XOM) Upgraded to Neutral by BNPP

Core Viewpoint - Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is recognized as a strong investment opportunity, particularly for retirement portfolios, with recent upgrades and positive financial performance indicating potential for growth [1][2][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - BNPP analyst Lucas Herrmann upgraded Exxon Mobil from 'Underperform' to 'Neutral' with a price target of $114 on December 8 [2]. - UBS initiated coverage with a 'Buy' rating and a price target of $145, citing positive earnings revisions and higher-than-expected shareholder returns as key drivers [3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - In Q3, Exxon Mobil generated free cash flow of $6.3 billion and returned $9.4 billion to shareholders, which included $4.2 billion in dividends and $5.1 billion in share repurchases [4]. - The company increased its quarterly dividend by 4% to $1.03 per share, marking its 43rd consecutive year of dividend growth, and currently offers an annual dividend yield of 3.55% [4].