Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. The Energy Products segment offers fuels, aromatics, and catalysts, as well as licensing services. It sells its products under the Exxon, Esso, and Mobil brands. The Chemical Products segment manufactures and markets petrochemicals including olefins, polyolefins, and intermediates. The Specialty Products segment offers performance products, including lubricants, basestocks, waxes, synthetics, elastomers, and resins. The company also involves in the manufacturing, trade, transport, and sale of crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals, and other specialty products; and pursuit lower-emission business opportunities, including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, lower-emission fuels, and lithium. Exxon Mobil Corporation was founded in 1870 and is based in Spring, Texas.

ExxonMobil appears financially stable, but the market has already priced in noticeably improved fundamentals. On valuation multiples, the company trades at a premium to the industry median across almost all key metrics: P/E, P/S, P/B, and especially P/FCF, which limits the potential for further re-rating. At the same time, the trend in valuation ratios does not look unequivocally supportive: P/E and P/B have fluctuated, while P/FCF has remained high, meaning free cash flow still does not look cheap enough to justify strong upside. The company’s strong point is its very low leverage: debt/equity is significantly below the industry median, and long-term debt looks moderate relative to the scale of the business. This reduces financial risk and supports balance sheet quality, especially for a capital-intensive energy company. However, liquidity is not ideal: the quick ratio and current ratio are below the median, indicating limited short-term flexibility. Profitability presents a mixed picture: ROA and ROI look acceptable, but ROE, net profit margin, operating margin, and gross margin are below industry benchmarks, suggesting less efficient revenue monetization. Earnings and revenue trends are generally positive, though not explosive: revenue, EBITDA, operating income, and net income are at high absolute levels and improving, which supports the valuation. Nevertheless, margins are not showing a sustained acceleration, and that is important for justifying a higher share price. Dividend yield has declined compared with previous periods, so the dividend argument has become slightly weaker. Overall, the fundamentals point to a high-quality, large, and resilient business, but without a clear discount to the industry and without such strong acceleration in metrics as to warrant aggressively raising the target price. For an investor, this is more a story of stability and balance than one of strong undervaluation.

ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Быки резко укрепили уверенность в своих позициях.

Strong index, significantly up. Bulls sharply strengthened confidence in their positions.

Средний индекс, незначительно упал. Рынок на стороне быков.

Medium index, slightly down. The market is on the bulls' side.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги резко увеличился и находится на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly up. The inflow of funds into longs has increased sharply and is at a high level.

ExxonMobil has a strong balance sheet and earnings growth, but its high valuation multiples and weaker-than-industry margins limit re-rating potential.

At Holdings Channel, we have reviewed the latest batch of the 61 most recent 13F filings for the 09/30/2026 reporting period, and noticed that ExxonMobil Holdings Corp (Symbol: XOM) was held by 42 of these funds. When hedge fund managers appear to be thinking alike, we find it is a good idea to take a closer look.
Before we proceed, it is important to point out that 13F filings do not tell the whole story, because these funds are only required to disclose their long positions with the SEC, but are not required to disclose their short positions. A fund making a bearish bet against a stock by shorting calls, for example, might also be long some amount of stock as they trade around their overall bearish position. This long component could show up in a 13F filing and everyone might assume the fund is bullish, but this tells only part of the story because the bearish/short side of the position is not seen.
Having given that caveat, we believe that looking at groups of 13F filings can be revealing, especially when comparing one holding period to another. Below, let's take a look at the change in XOM positions, for this latest batch of 13F filers:
In terms of shares owned, we count 18 of the above funds having increased existing XOM positions from 06/30/2026 to 09/30/2026, with 14 having decreased their positions and 5 new positions. Worth noting is that Advantage Trust Co, BankChampaign National Association, and OMC Financial Services LTD, included in this recent batch of 13F filers, exited XOM common stock as of 09/30/2026.
Looking beyond these particular funds in this one batch of most recent filers, we tallied up the XOM share count in the aggregate among all of the funds which held XOM at the 09/30/2026 reporting period (out of the 1,361 we looked at in total). We then compared that number to the sum total of XOM shares those same funds held back at the 06/30/2026 period, to see how the aggregate share count held by hedge funds has moved for XOM. We found that between these two periods, funds reduced their holdings by 16,276,783 shares in the aggregate, from 18,450,791 down to 2,174,008 for a share count decline of approximately -88.22%. The overall top three funds holding XOM on 09/30/2026 were:
We'll keep following the latest 13F filings by hedge fund managers and bring you interesting stories derived from a look at the aggregate information across groups of managers between filing periods. While looking at individual 13F filings can sometimes be misleading due to the long-only nature of the information, the sum total across groups of funds from one reporting period to another can be a lot more revealing and relevant, providing interesting stock ideas that merit further research, like ExxonMobil Holdings Corp (Symbol: XOM).
Further XOM Research:

See Which Recent 13F Filers Hold XOM But Advantage Trust, BankChampaign National Association and OMC Financial Services Exited

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed down by -1.09% on Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -0.34%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -2.50%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) fell -1.14%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) fell -2.51%.
Stock indexes sold off sharply on Friday, with the S&P 500 falling to a 2-week low and the Nasdaq 100 dropping to a 1-month low. Selling in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks led the market lower on Friday, driven by concerns about whether companies will see returns on their huge investments in the AI infrastructure buildout. Also, CoreWeave sank more than -11% to weigh on cloud infrastructure stocks as concerns about the company’s credit risk linger.
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Stock losses accelerated Friday afternoon as crude oil prices soared more than 3% to a 1-month high, raising inflation expectations and fueling fears the Fed will keep raising interest rates to contain inflation.
Higher bond yields undercut stocks after Fed Chair Warsh made no remarks on monetary policy or his outlook for the US economy late Thursday evening at the IMF annual meeting in Bangkok. The 10-year T-note yield rose +1 bp to 5.09%.
Friday’s US economic news was mixed for stocks. The Sep import price index ex-petroleum rose +0.8% m/m, stronger than expectations of +0.6% m/m, the largest increase in 5 months and a sign of price pressures. However, Sep manufacturing production rose +0.3% m/m, right on expectations.
Stocks have support from the prospect of solid quarterly earnings results that began this week. Goldman Sachs on Monday raised its three-month view on global equity markets to overweight from neutral, saying. “Earnings growth remains supportive for equities and the recent valuation de-rating has improved asymmetry into the third-quarter earnings season.” According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 earnings are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. As of Friday, 40 of the S&P 500 companies have reported results, with 78% beating estimates.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) surged more than +3% on Friday to a 1-month high. Crude prices rallied on Friday amid a weaker dollar and concerns that escalating Middle East hostilities could disrupt regional energy supplies. Prices race to their highs Friday afternoon after US lawmakers introduced a bill to block President Trump’s deal with Russia to release several hundred million barrels of diesel fuel.
Markets are discounting a 17% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled higher on Friday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed up +0.58%. China's Shanghai Composite closed up +0.24%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average closed up +1.39%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed down -2.5 ticks on Friday. The 10-year T-note yield rose +2.7 bp to 5.085%. Dec T-notes were under pressure Friday after Fed Chair Warsh's lack of guidance at the annual IMF meeting in Bangkok weighed on T-notes. Also, Friday’s +3% surge in WTI crude oil to a 1-month high raised inflation expectations and weighed on T-notes. Friday’s stock plunge sparked safe-haven buying of government debt and limited T-note losses.
European government bond yields were mixed on Friday. The 10-year German bund yield rose +1.3 bp to 3.426%. The 10-year UK gilt yield fell -0.2 bp to 5.373%.
ECB Governing Council member and Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said. "The ECB has raised interest rates twice, and if the situation remains as it is, we don't rule out the possibility that we may have to take further action."
Markets are discounting a 10% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks continued their week-long slide on Friday, weighing on the broader market. Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) closed down more than -7%, and Western Digital (WDC), SanDisk (SNDK), and ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) closed down more than -6%. Also, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Micron Technology (MU), Intel (INTC), and Marvell Technology (MRVL) closed down more than -5%, and Lam Research (LRCX), KLA Corp (KLAC), Applied Materials (AMAT), and Broadcom (AVGO) closed down more than -4%. In addition,
CoreWeave (CRWV) closed down more than -11% to weigh on cloud infrastructure stocks as debt concerns linger after swaps priced in more than a 50% chance the company will default on its debt within five years. Also, Nebius Group NV (NBIS) closed down more than -12% to lead losers in the Nasdaq 100, and Applied Digital (APLD) closed down more than -11%. In addition, Lumentum Holdings (LITE) closed down more than -5%, and Oracle (ORCL) and Arista Networks (ANET) closed down more than -4%.
The Magnificent Seven stocks, excluding Apple, fell on Friday and weighed on the overall market. Meta Platforms (META) closed down more than -3%, and Alphabet (GOOGL) closed down more than -2% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials. Also, Tesla (TSLA) closed down more than -2%, and Amazon.com (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), and Nvidia (NVDA) closed down more than -1%. Apple (AAPL) bucked the trend and closed up +0.43%.
Cybersecurity stocks retreated on Friday. Okta (OKTA) closed down more than -10%, and SentinelOne (S), Fortinet (FTNT), Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD), and Palo Alto Networks (PANW) closed down more than -7%. Also, Cloudflare (NET) closed down more than -6%, Zscaler (ZS) closed down more than -5%, and Gen Digital (GEN) closed down more than -2%.
Energy producers and service providers rallied on Friday after WTI crude oil rose more than +3% to a 1-month high. APA Corp (APA) closed up more than +4%, and Diamondback Energy (FANG) closed up more than +4% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100. Also, ConocoPhillips (COP) and Devon Energy (DVN) closed up more than +3%, and Chevron (CVX) closed up more than +2% to lead gainers in the Dow Jones industrials. In addition, Baker Hughes (BKR), ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), and SLB Ltd (SLB) closed up more than +2%, and Halliburton (HAL) and Phillips 66 (PSX) closed up more than +1%.
Defense contractors rose on Friday as the companies are set to benefit from increased defense spending. Northrop Grumman (NOC) closed up more than +4%, and Lockheed Martin (LMT), RTX Corp (RTX), and L3Harris Technologies (LHX) closed up more than +3%. Also, General Dynamics (GD) closed up more than +2%, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) closed up more than +1%.
Defensive food producers moved higher on Friday amid the slump in the broader market. Kraft Heinz Co (KHC), McCormick & Co (MKC), J M Smucker (SJM), Hershey Co (HSY), Hormel Foods (HRL), and Mondelez International (MDLZ) closed up more than +1%.
Omeros (OMER) closed down more than -14% after the European Medicines Agency issued a negative opinion on the company’s application for its narsoplimab therapy.
Earnings Reports (10/19/2026)
AGNC Investment Corp (AGNC), BOK Financial Corp (BOKF), Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (CLF), Crown Holdings Inc (CCK), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB), FNB Corp/PA (FNB), RLI Corp (RLI), Steel Dynamics Inc (STLD), W R Berkley Corp (WRB), Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL), Wintrust Financial Corp (WTFC), Zions Bancorp NA (ZION).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stock Indexes Finish Sharply Lower as Tech Stocks Plunge

Exxon Mobil Holdings (XOM) closed the most recent trading day at $177.01, moving +1.68% from the previous trading session. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 1.11%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.09%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.88%.
The stock of oil and natural gas company has risen by 2.81% in the past month, lagging the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 4.62% and overreaching the S&P 500's gain of 2.06%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Exxon Mobil Holdings in its upcoming earnings disclosure. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $3.93, marking a 109.04% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $104.61 billion, up 22.65% from the prior-year quarter.
XOM's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $12.52 per share and revenue of $412.13 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +79.11% and +24.05%, respectively.
It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Exxon Mobil Holdings. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 4.92% higher. At present, Exxon Mobil Holdings boasts a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
With respect to valuation, Exxon Mobil Holdings is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 13.91. This denotes a premium relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 8.08.
We can additionally observe that XOM currently boasts a PEG ratio of 1.01. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Oil and Gas - Integrated - International was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.65 at yesterday's closing price.
The Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 20, placing it within the top 9% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
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Exxon Mobil Holdings (XOM) Rises As Market Takes a Dip: Key Facts

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) closed down by -0.02% on Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) closed down by -0.35%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) closed down -0.31%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) fell -0.02%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) fell -0.32%.
Stock indexes settled lower on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq 100 falling to a 1.5-week low. Weakness in chipmakers weighed on the broader market Tuesday amid concerns that investment in artificial intelligence may be unsustainable due to safety concerns and signs of funding strain. Also, a selloff in South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix knocked South Korea’s Kospi Index down more than -5% on Tuesday to a 2.5-month low amid concerns over intensifying competition from China, adding additional pressure to chip stocks.
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However, stocks recovered from their worst levels on Tuesday as bond yields fell on dovish Fed comments that bolstered speculation the Fed won’t be forced to raise interest rates aggressively. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said the recent surge in long-term bond yields is helping to curb demand in interest-rate-sensitive sectors, such as housing and automobiles, doing some of the Fed's work to tighten monetary policy. Waller’s comments suggest he favors holding policy steady at the FOMC meeting later this month. Also, New York Fed President John Williams said, "It may be appropriate for one more 25 bp Fed rate hike this year, but I don't think at this time I have any reason to believe that we would need to do more."
Hawkish comments on Tuesday from Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee limited the decline in T-note yields when he said inflation tied to the AI boom is "jumping out of its lane" and starting to push up prices in unrelated corners of the economy. The 10-year T-note yield fell -3 bp to 5.21%.
Tuesday’s US economic news was supportive for stocks after Sep existing home sales unexpectedly rose +1.5% m/m to 3.99 million, stronger than expectations of a decline to 3.95 million.
Stocks have support from the prospect of solid quarterly earnings results starting this week. Goldman Sachs on Monday raised its three-month view on global equity markets to overweight from neutral, saying. “Earnings growth remains supportive for equities and the recent valuation de-rating has improved asymmetry into the third-quarter earnings season.”
According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 profits are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. Q3 earnings season begins this week when US money center banks report.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its 2026 global GDP forecast to 3.1% from 3.0% in July and kept its 2026 global consumer price forecast unchanged from July at 4.7%.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) rose slightly on Tuesday amid concerns about Middle East energy-supply disruptions. Saudi Arabia has seen an increase in attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen in recent days, while Iran has ramped up attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Gains in crude were limited on Tuesday after Saudi Arabia said its Sep crude production rose by +2 million bpd (+40% m/m) to 8.732 million bpd, recovering from a 36-year low in August. Goldman Sachs estimates a $24-a-barrel risk premium in crude oil prices due to the Middle East conflict. However, if Europe releases half the diesel it has announced from reserves, fair value prices could fall by about $11 a barrel.
Markets are discounting a 22% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets settled mixed on Tuesday. The Euro Stoxx 50 closed down -0.55%. China's Shanghai Composite recovered from a 2.5-month low and closed up +0.10%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average fell to a 1.5-week low and closed down -1.82%.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) closed up by +5.5 ticks on Tuesday. The 10-year T-note yield fell -2.5 bp to 5.213%. Dec T-notes rose to a 1-week high on Tuesday, and the 10-year T-note yield fell to a 1-week low of 5.171%. Lower inflation expectations supported gains in T-notes on Tuesday after the 10-year breakeven inflation rate fell to a 1-week low of 2.336%. Dovish Fed comments also supported T-note prices on Tuesday when Fed Governor Christopher Waller said the recent surge in long-term bond yields is doing some of the Fed’s work to tighten monetary policy, suggesting he favors holding policy steady at the FOMC meeting later this month. Also, New York Fed President John Williams said that after the Fed hikes rates one more time this year, he believes the Fed’s rate-hike cycle is done.
T-note gains were limited Tuesday after Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said inflation remains too high. Also, Tuesday’s report showing Sep existing home sales unexpectedly increased weighed on T-notes.
European government bond yields were mixed on Tuesday. The 10-year German bund yield fell to a 1-week low of 3.426% and finished down -0.8 bp to 3.469%. The 10-year UK gilt yield rose +0.7 bp to 5.447%.
Markets are discounting a 12% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks retreated for a second session on Tuesday, weighing on the overall market. Applied Materials (AMAT) closed down more than -6% to lead losers in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 after failing to give a detailed outlook at an investor day conference. Also, Micron Technology (MU) and KLA Corp (KLAC) closed down more than -3%, and Lam Research (LRCX) closed down more than -2%. In addition, ASML Holding NV (ASML) and Western Digital (WDC) closed down more than -1%.
Pharmaceutical stocks sold off on Tuesday. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) closed down more than -4%, and Merck & Co (MRK), Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS), Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc (JAZZ), and Untragenyx Pharmaceutical (RARE) closed down more than -2%. Also, Gilead Sciences (GILD), Amgen (AMGN), Eli Lilly (LLY), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (ALNY), and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN) closed down more than -1%.
Energy producers and service providers rallied on Tuesday as WTI crude prices rose. Valero Energy (VLO) closed up more than +4%, and Marathon Petroleum (MPC) and Phillips 66 (PSX) closed up more than +3%. Also, APA Corp (APA), ConocoPhillips (COP), and Devon Energy (DVN) closed up more than +2%, and Chevron (CVX), Diamondback Energy (FANG), and ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM) closed up more than +1%.
Telecom operators moved higher on Tuesday. Charter Communications (CHTR) closed up more than +4%, and T-Mobile US (TMUS), Comcast (CMCSA), Verizon Communications (VZ), and AT&T (T) closed up more than +1%.
Syndax Pharmaceuticals (SNDX) closed down more than -16% after saying its MAXPIRe Phase 2 trial of its axatilimab to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis failed to meet its primary endpoint.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) closed down more than -8% after Piper Sandler downgraded the stock to neutral from overweight.
SentinelOne (S) closed down more than -6% after announcing that it intends to offer $1.25 billion in convertible senior notes due in 2031 via private placement.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) closed down more than -5% to lead losers in the Dow Jones Industrials after forecasting full-year sales of $101.00 billion to $101.40 billion, the midpoint below the consensus of $101.24 billion.
Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) closed down more than -5% after reporting Q3 total domestic store comparable sales growth of +0.30%, below the consensus of +0.72%.
Meta Platforms (META) closed up more than +2% to lead gainers in the Nasdaq 100, adding to Monday’s +3% gain, after releasing a new artificial intelligence model called Muse Wonder, which the company claims has “frontier capabilities.”
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI) closed up more than +2% after its Board of Directors approved a $500 million stock buyback plan.
Amer Sports (AS) closed up more than +2% after Jefferies initiated coverage on the stock with a buy recommendation and a price target of $42.
Earnings Reports (10/14/2026)
Bank of America Corp (BAC), Blackrock Inc (BLK), Fastenal Co (FAST), Morgan Stanley (MS), Progressive Corp/The (PGR), State Street Corp (STT).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Finish Lower Ahead of Wednesday’s CPI Report

The S&P 500 Index ($SPX) (SPY) is down by -0.07% today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($DOWI) (DIA) is up by +0.42%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index ($IUXX) (QQQ) is down -0.69%. December E-mini S&P futures (ESZ26) are down -0.05%, and December E-mini Nasdaq futures (NQZ26) are down -0.65%.
Stock indexes are mixed today, with the Dow Jones Industrials posting a 2.5-week high. The broader market is under pressure from higher crude oil prices, with WTI crude up more than +2% today on concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East after repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia from neighboring Yemen. Weakness in chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks is also weighing on the overall market today.
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Stocks have support from the prospect of solid quarterly earnings results that will begin this week. Goldman Sachs today raised its three-month view on global equity markets to overweight from neutral, saying. “Earnings growth remains supportive for equities and the recent valuation de-rating has improved asymmetry into the third-quarter earnings season.” Also, strength in software stocks and energy producers is supportive of the overall market.
Market activity may be below normal, as the cash Treasury market is closed today for the Columbus Day bank holiday.
According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Q3 S&P 500 profits are expected to climb by +25% from a year earlier, up from a July estimate of 22%. Q3 earnings season begins this week when US money center banks report.
Nov WTI crude oil prices (CLX26) are up more than +2% today after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched drone and missile attacks against Saudi Arabia over the weekend, raising the risk of escalation that could draw the US into the conflict. Also, there's been a recent escalation of drone and missile attacks against vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz, limiting energy exports from the region. Limiting gains in crude are the prospects of Russia releasing diesel supplies into theglobal marketafter the US Treasury issued a waiver for previously sanctioned Russian fuel. Last Friday, Russia said it will partially lift its ban on diesel exports, allowing 500,000 MT of diesel fuel to reach international markets following an agreement between Russian President Putin and US President Trump.
Markets are discounting a 19% chance of a +25 bp Fed rate hike at the next FOMC meeting on October 27-28.
Overseas stock markets are mixed today. The Euro Stoxx 50 is up +0.44%. China's Shanghai Composite closed down -0.43%. Japan's Nikkei-225 Stock Average did not trade, as Japanese markets were closed today for the Health Sports Day holiday.
Interest Rates
December 10-year T-notes (ZNZ6) are down by -2.5 ticks today. The 10-year T-note yield is not trading today, as the cash Treasury market is closed for the Columbus Day bank holiday. Dec T-notes are under pressure today as higher crude oil prices raise inflation expectations.
European government bond yields are mixed today. The 10-year German bund yield is down -0.5 bp to 3.476%. The 10-year UK gilt yield is up +0.1 bp to 5.444%.
ECB Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras said the ECB may raise interest rates again to curb inflation but without rushing any action, suggesting an ECB rate hike this month is less likely than one in December.
Markets are discounting a 13% chance of a +25 bp ECB rate hike at the ECB’s next meeting on October 29.
US Stock Movers
Chipmakers and AI-infrastructure stocks are sliding today, weighing on the overall market. Lumentum Holdings (LITE) is down more than -7% to lead losers in the S&P 50 and Nasdaq 100, and Sandisk (SNDK) is down more than -6%. Also, Micron Technology (MU) and Marvell Technology (MRVL) are down more than -4%, and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), ARM Holdings (ARM), Intel (INTC), and Seagate Technology Holdings Plc (STX) are down more than 3-%. In addition, Lam Research (LRCX), KLA Corp (KLAC), Microchip Technology (MCHP), and Western Digital (WDC) are down more than -2%, and Applied Materials (AMAT), Broadcom (AVGO), and Qualcomm (QCOM) are down more than -1%.
Software stocks are climbing today, led by a +2% jump in Salesforce (CRM) to lead gainers in the Dow Jones Industrials after Bank of America Global Research double-upgraded the stock to buy from underperform with a price target of $285. Also, Workday (WDAY) is up more than +2%, and ServiceNow (NOW), Intuit (INTU), and Microsoft (MSFT) are up more than +1%.
Energy producers and service providers are moving higher today, with WTI crude oil up more than +2%. Diamondback Energy (FANG) is up more than +2%, and APA Corp (APA), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Devon Energy (DVN), ExxonMobil Holdings (XOM), and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) are up more than +1%.
IonQ (IONQ) is down more than -8% after agreeing to buy Elisity Inc. for as much as $1.3 billion in an all-stock transaction.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) is down more than -4% after Starbucks said it has no plans to acquire the company.
Enact Holdings (ACT) is down more than -1% after JPMorgan Chase downgraded the stock to underweight from neutral with a price target of $44.
Adobe (ADBE) is down more than -1% after Wells Fargo Securities double-downgraded the stock to underweight from overweight with a price target of $225.
First Tracks Biotherapeutics (TRAX) is up more than +6% after reporting topline results from an early-stage trial of its experimental therapy for celiac disease.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is up more than +4% after Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to buy from hold with a price target of $93.
Biogen (BIIB) is up more than +3% after JPMorgan Chase upgraded the stock to overweight from neutral, with a price target of $300.
Earnings Reports (10/12/2026)
Liberty Live Holdings Inc (LLYVA) and SR Bancorp Inc (SRBK).
On the date of publication, Rich Asplund did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

Stocks Pressured by Rising Crude Prices and Chipmaker Weakness

In the latest trading session, Exxon Mobil Holdings (XOM) closed at $168.56, marking a +2.75% move from the previous day. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.47%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a gain of 0.1%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.25%.
Heading into today, shares of the oil and natural gas company had lost 0.11% over the past month, lagging the Oils-Energy sector's gain of 1.58% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.15%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Exxon Mobil Holdings in its upcoming release. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $3.93, signifying a 109.04% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $104.61 billion, reflecting a 22.65% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $12.4 per share and revenue of $410.03 billion, indicating changes of +77.4% and +23.42%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Exxon Mobil Holdings. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 3.51% higher. As of now, Exxon Mobil Holdings holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
With respect to valuation, Exxon Mobil Holdings is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 13.23. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 8.01 for its industry.
Also, we should mention that XOM has a PEG ratio of 0.97. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. The Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry had an average PEG ratio of 0.6 as trading concluded yesterday.
The Oil and Gas - Integrated - International industry is part of the Oils-Energy sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 37, putting it in the top 16% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is Here
The AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. AI’s second wave is moving from infrastructure to implementation and these companies are at the forefront of this transition, positioned to become what Amazon and Google were to the internet era.
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Exxon Mobil Holdings (XOM) Gains As Market Dips: What You Should Know

Key Points
Oxy only needs oil to stay above $40 per barrel.
ExxonMobil can keep hiking its dividends if oil drops to $35 per barrel.
Energy Transfer’s “toll road” pipelines can survive extreme oil price swings.
In early September, the prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil briefly soared above $100 per barrel as the conflict in Iran dragged on. That rally lifted many oil stocks, but it also slammed other industries with higher labor and logistics costs.
As of this writing, WTI trades at about $91 per barrel, while Brent remains above $100 per barrel. Those high prices will enable dividend-paying oil companies to generate ample cash to cover their payouts, but some investors might worry about dividend cuts if oil prices tumble.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
But if we look closer at the big upstream, midstream, and downstream players, we'll find plenty of companies that can easily afford to raise their dividends even if the price of crude oil sinks far below $100. Let's see why three of them -- Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY), ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), and Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) -- are still worth buying today.
Occidental Petroleum
Occidental Petroleum, more commonly known as Oxy, generates most of its profits from its upstream business. Upstream companies flourish when oil prices are high, since their revenues generally rise much faster than their operating expenses. Oxy also divested its downstream business -- which fares better when oil prices are lower -- earlier this year.
Oxy produces the vast majority of its gas and oil in the U.S., so it's well-insulated from overseas conflicts. It also continues to reduce its drilling times, cut its structural costs, and increase its cash flow by integrating the assets it acquired through its 2024 acquisition of CrownRock.
Oxy pays a forward dividend yield of 1.9%, and it's raised its payout annually for five consecutive years. Its low trailing payout ratio of 30% gives it plenty of room for future hikes, and it only needs WTI crude oil prices to stay above its corporate breakeven price of $40 per barrel to support its capex and dividends. So while Oxy's upstream business would certainly benefit from soaring oil prices, it can still easily raise its dividends if oil prices pull back.
ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, one of the world's largest integrated energy companies, owns upstream, midstream, and downstream assets in over 56 countries. That diversification makes it a less direct play on rising oil prices than Oxy, but it's also better insulated from a pullback.
Regardless of what happens to oil prices in the near term, ExxonMobil plans to increase its oil and gas production by nearly 3% annually through 2030. It gets most of its oil in the U.S., but it's been expanding in Asia, Africa, and South America. It has a bit more exposure to the Middle East than its closest competitors, but it offsets that pressure with its scale and diversification.
ExxonMobil only needs Brent crude oil prices (the preferred metric for multinational oil companies) to remain above $35 per barrel to cover its capex and dividends. It's raised its dividends annually for 43 consecutive years, pays a forward yield of 2.5%, and its trailing payout ratio of 53% suggests that streak will continue for the foreseeable future.
Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer, which operates over 140,000 miles of pipeline across 44 states, is one of the country's largest midstream companies. It delivers crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGL), and other refined products through its pipelines and marine export terminals.
As a midstream company, Energy Transfer simply collects "tolls" from upstream and downstream companies that transport resources through its pipelines. That business model is naturally insulated from volatile commodity prices, since it only needs those resources to keep flowing through its infrastructure to generate stable profits.
As a master limited partnership (MLP), Energy Transfer blends a return of capital with its own income to pay distributions that are more tax-efficient than traditional dividends. It spends only about half of its distributable cash flow (DCF) on distributions each year, has raised its payout annually for four consecutive years, and pays a high forward yield of 6.8%. It won't profit as much from high oil prices as Oxy or ExxonMobil, but it will remain a reliable, high-yield play for income-oriented investors.
Should you buy stock in Occidental Petroleum right now?
Before you buy stock in Occidental Petroleum, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Occidental Petroleum wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $365,910!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,418,530!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 930% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 211% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of October 2, 2026.
Leo Sun has positions in Energy Transfer. The Motley Fool recommends Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Dividend Stocks That Didn't Need $100 Oil to Keep Raising Their Payouts

Key Points
The Metals Company has appointed a new board member.
There continue to be significant risks with an investment in The Metals Company.
Poised to end the end of September on a bullish note, shares of The Metals Company (NASDAQ: TMC) are rising after the deep-sea mining company announced a new member of its leadership team yesterday.
As of 10:47 a.m. ET, shares of The Metals Company are up 9.2%.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
A new board member will help The Metals Company steer through uncharted waters
Strengthening its leadership team as the company advances its deep-sea mining operations, The Metals Company has appointed Liam Mallon to its board of directors.
In his 35-year career with ExxonMobil, Mallon served as the president of ExxonMobil Upstream Company and vice president of ExxonMobil Corporation. During that time, he managed $20 billion to $30 billion in annual capital deployment, helping to restructure ExxonMobil's upstream operations and leading the company to double its profitability.
Lauding the appointment of the company's newest board member, Gerard Barron, The Metals Company chairman and CEO, stated, "Liam brings the experience that matters as we prepare for commercial operations: delivering complex offshore projects and overseeing major capital investment."
What should potential The Metals Company investors do now?
While the news of Mallon's appointment is clearly a positive for the company, considering his extensive experience, it seems a little hasty to load up on shares solely based on this development. There are still plenty of questions about whether this specialized mining stock will succeed in commencing operations and generating profits from the production of critical minerals sourced from the seabed.
Should you buy stock in TMC The Metals Company right now?
Before you buy stock in TMC The Metals Company, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and TMC The Metals Company wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $379,123!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,396,103!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 933% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 212% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 30, 2026.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Founded in 1993 in Alexandria, VA., by brothers David and Tom Gardner, The Motley Fool is a multimedia financial-services company dedicated to building the world's greatest investment community. Reaching millions of people each month through its website, books, newspaper column, radio show, television appearances, and subscription newsletter services, The Motley Fool champions shareholder values and advocates tirelessly for the individual investor. The company's name was taken from Shakespeare, whose wise fools both instructed and amused, and could speak the truth to the king -- without getting their heads lopped off.

Why The Metals Company Stock Is Soaring Today

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Value ETF (Symbol: SCHV) where we have detected an approximate $1.5 billion dollar outflow -- that's a 8.9% decrease week over week (from 496,850,000 to 452,850,000). Among the largest underlying components of SCHV, in trading today Berkshire Hathaway Inc New (Symbol: BRK.B) is down about 0.2%, ExxonMobil Holdings Corp (Symbol: XOM) is off about 1%, and Johnson & Johnson (Symbol: JNJ) is lower by about 2.1%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the SCHV Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of SCHV, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, SCHV's low point in its 52 week range is $28.29 per share, with $35.485 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $33.52. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further SCHV Research:

SCHV, BRK.B, XOM, JNJ: Large Outflows Detected at ETF

Key Points
Dollar-cost averaging stops you from trying to time the market because your buying schedule is already set.
The S&P 500 has averaged 10.6% annual total returns over the past 30 years.
The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF can be a passive, one-stop shop for long-term investors.
Inflation has undoubtedly changed how far your money stretches, but there's no denying that being a millionaire has a nice ring to it. For most people, seeing seven figures brings a sense of accomplishment and financial security.
The good news is that, as it has for decades, the stock market continues to mint millionaires. Thanks to the power of time and compound earnings, everyday investors have a path to $1 million. Let's take a look at how it can be done.
Missed AI’s "Act 1"? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn't buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of "Act 1"—the R&D phase. "Act 2" is the global rollout. Continue »
Lean on dollar-cost averaging
Dollar-cost averaging involves setting a regular investment schedule and sticking to it, no matter what's happening in the market. For example, assume you have $1,000 to invest monthly in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). You might consider one of these schedules:
$250 every Monday
$500 every other Friday
$1,000 on the first of each month
$125 every Tuesday and Thursday
$500 on the first and 15th
Everyone's situation is different, so the exact schedule you choose isn't that important. What matters is sticking to your schedule regardless and investing no matter what happens in the market.
Dollar-cost averaging accomplishes two things: It stops you from trying to time the market because your buying schedule is already set, and it keeps you consistent. Both of those are key to a million-dollar portfolio.
The math behind reaching $1 million
Most people can't reach $1 million by saving alone and relying on interest from savings accounts. It generally takes investing in stocks and giving yourself a chance to take advantage of compound earnings and the wealth-building opportunities the stock market offers.
To see the path to $1 million, we'll assume you're investing in an S&P 500 ETF that averages 10% annual returns (the S&P 500 has averaged 10.6% annual total returns over the past 30 years). Here's how long it would take you to reach $1 million based on different monthly investment amounts:
Monthly Investments
Years Until $1 Million
$250
38
$500
31
$1,000
24
$1,500
20
$2,000
18
Data source: Table by author. Years rounded to the nearest full year.
The best part (other than having a million dollars) is how much less than $1 million you would have personally invested to reach the mark. If you invested $500 monthly over 31 years, you would've only personally invested $186,000; $1,000 over 24 years is $288,000; and $2,000 over 18 years is $432,000.
How long it takes to reach $1 million ultimately depends on how much you invest and your returns, but the most important thing is to stay consistent. Without consistency, it gets much harder to accomplish, which is why dollar-cost averaging is so useful.
One investment can lead the way
Dollar-cost averaging aside, it's much easier to remain consistent when you're not overthinking what you're investing in. That's why an exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on the broader market like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) is a great go-to. It's diversified, cheap, and grows with the U.S. economy over time.
VOO has become tech-heavy, but you'll still get exposure to every U.S. blue chip stock across all industries. Whether it's Apple in tech, JPMorgan Chase in financials, Eli Lilly in healthcare, ExxonMobil in energy, or Walmart in consumer staples, you know you're being led by some of the world's top companies across the board.
Past results don't guarantee future performance, but the S&P 500 has historically been one of the surest ways to build wealth over time. It also outperforms most actively managed funds. According to the S&P Dow Jones indexes' SPIVA scorecard, 84.3% of actively managed large-cap funds underperform the S&P 500 over 10 years. So, in most cases, it's a cheaper, more effective option.
With a 0.03% expense ratio, or $0.30 per $1,000 invested, VOO is one of the cheapest ETFs on the market. It's sometimes easy to ignore expense ratios because differences seem small on paper, but when you're investing for decades, those small differences begin to add up.
Investors who have consistently invested in the S&P 500 over time have generally been well-rewarded. I don't foresee that changing.
Should you buy stock in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF right now?
Before you buy stock in Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $383,680!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,382,954!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 937% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 29, 2026.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Stefon Walters has positions in Apple, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Eli Lilly, JPMorgan Chase, Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.