Lockheed Martin, Exxon Mobil And More: CNBC's 'Final Trades'
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 01 2025
0mins
Should l Buy XOM?
Source: Benzinga
Lockheed Martin and Alphabet Partnership: Lockheed Martin has partnered with Alphabet Inc. to integrate advanced generative AI into its AI Factory ecosystem, aiming to enhance AI-driven solutions for national security and aerospace.
Market Insights: Analysts discussed various investment opportunities, highlighting Lockheed Martin's stock rise, Exxon Mobil's maintained Overweight rating despite a price target reduction, and the potential for cyclical rebounds in the iShares U.S. Industrials ETF.
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Analyst Views on XOM
Wall Street analysts forecast XOM stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 147.680
Low
114.00
Averages
132.17
High
158.00
Current: 147.680
Low
114.00
Averages
132.17
High
158.00
About XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation is an energy provider and chemical manufacturer. The Company’s principal business involves exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas; the manufacture, trade, transport and sale of crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals and a wide variety of specialty products; and pursuit of lower-emission and other new business opportunities, including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, lower-emission fuels, Proxxima systems, carbon materials, and lithium. Its Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. The Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments manufacture and sell petroleum products and petrochemicals. Energy Products segment includes fuels, aromatics, and catalysts and licensing. Chemical Products segment consists of olefins, polyolefins, and intermediates. Specialty Products segment includes finished lubricants, basestocks and waxes, synthetics, and elastomers and resins.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Ownership Structure: The project is owned 70% by QatarEnergy and 30% by Exxon Mobil, indicating a deep collaboration between these two energy giants in the LNG sector, which may drive future market expansion and technological innovation.
- Subsequent Shipment Plans: The Exxon Mobil-chartered LNG carrier, HL Sea Eagle, is heading to Golden Pass to load the second shipment, which not only demonstrates the gradual ramp-up of production capacity but also signals an increase in future export volumes.
- Capacity Potential: Golden Pass is expected to have an export capacity exceeding 18 million metric tons per year when fully operational, and despite facing multiple delays and cost overruns since its inception in 2019, its eventual launch will hold significant strategic implications for U.S. energy exports.
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- Dividend Appeal: The company offers a 2.8% dividend yield, significantly higher than the 0.63% from the S&P 500 index, making it an attractive option for conservative investors, especially amid current market volatility.
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- Oil Price Outlook: The bullish case hinges on the belief that the market is underestimating the potential for a 'higher for longer' oil price, although analyses suggest that the market expects the conflict's impact on oil prices to be short-lived, which could affect ExxonMobil's long-term investment value.
- Investment Risks: The bearish perspective argues that oil prices are likely to decline significantly in the coming months, suggesting that investing in ExxonMobil during a period of high prices could be a mistake, especially given the uncertainty surrounding energy infrastructure risks in the region.
- Future Growth Expectations: According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, Wall Street analysts anticipate ExxonMobil's earnings and cash flow to grow at a low-single-digit rate over the next five years, indicating that the current 2.7% dividend yield requires higher oil prices to justify its investment appeal.
See More
First LNG Export Begins at Golden Pass Facility in Texas
- First Export Launch: The Golden Pass facility in Texas welcomed its inaugural LNG export tanker, Al Qaiyyah, on Monday, marking the commencement of production after prolonged construction delays, which is expected to significantly enhance the U.S. competitiveness in the global LNG market.
- Ownership Structure: The project is owned 70% by QatarEnergy and 30% by Exxon Mobil, indicating a deep collaboration between these two energy giants in the LNG sector, which may drive future market expansion and technological innovation.
- Subsequent Shipment Plans: The Exxon Mobil-chartered LNG carrier, HL Sea Eagle, is heading to Golden Pass to load the second shipment, which not only demonstrates the gradual ramp-up of production capacity but also signals an increase in future export volumes.
- Capacity Potential: Golden Pass is expected to have an export capacity exceeding 18 million metric tons per year when fully operational, and despite facing multiple delays and cost overruns since its inception in 2019, its eventual launch will hold significant strategic implications for U.S. energy exports.
See More
Brent Crude Oil Price Fluctuations Impact Oil Companies' Outlook
- Price Decline Context: Brent crude oil prices have recently dipped below $100 a barrel, significantly lower than the $119.50 peak caused by Iran's attack, indicating a fragile de-escalation in the Middle East that could lead to future price volatility.
- War Impact Assessment: While the current ceasefire has temporarily lowered oil prices, a resumption of conflict could cause a significant spike in prices, further impacting oil infrastructure in the Gulf and leading to supply disruptions that affect the global market.
- Oil Company Earnings Outlook: With oil prices starting the year around $60, many oil companies budgeted for prices between $60 and $70, resulting in substantial profits now, particularly Chevron, which expects to generate $12.5 billion in free cash flow at $70 oil.
- Long-Term Growth Potential: Even if a peace deal is reached, oil prices are unlikely to quickly revert to the $60 range, with ongoing supply shortages expected, positioning companies like Exxon and Chevron to significantly exceed their growth expectations, making them compelling long-term investment opportunities.
See More
UBS Analysis: Impact of US-Iran Ceasefire on Stocks
- Ceasefire Impact Assessment: UBS analysts evaluated individual stocks' performance during the US-Iran ceasefire using three metrics, including exposure to Middle Eastern commodities, pricing power, and sensitivity to past supply shocks, providing investors with clear investment directions.
- Southwest Airlines Outlook: The stock of Southwest Airlines fell over 25% during the war, but UBS believes it will benefit if hostilities cease; prior to the conflict, analysts upgraded the stock to buy, anticipating that new initiatives would enhance profitability.
- Procter & Gamble Potential Winner: As of Monday, Procter & Gamble's stock was 14% below its pre-war level, despite gaining 17% in the first two months of the year, and UBS sees potential for recovery and increased market confidence if peace is achieved.
- UPS Growth Opportunities: UPS's stock rose 17% in the two months before the war but fell 18% during hostilities; UBS analysts noted that avoiding further conflict could benefit UPS due to its undervalued stock and potential earnings growth.
See More
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- Company Overview: ExxonMobil is one of the world's largest energy companies, boasting a globally diversified asset portfolio across the entire energy value chain, with a debt-to-equity ratio of just 0.19, indicating strong financial health among its peers.
- Dividend Appeal: The company offers a 2.8% dividend yield, significantly higher than the 0.63% from the S&P 500 index, making it an attractive option for conservative investors, especially amid current market volatility.
- Market Volatility: Although ExxonMobil's stock has recently declined over 10%, it remains up more than 35% over the past year, highlighting its long-term investment value, suggesting that investors should consider waiting for a downturn in the energy sector before buying.
- Investment Strategy Advice: Investors are advised to monitor ExxonMobil's dividend yield, considering a buy signal if it reaches around 3.5%, which would historically represent an attractive entry point to navigate potential future market fluctuations.
See More
Latest Wall Street Ratings Overview
- Cybersecurity Investment Opportunity: Berenberg initiates coverage on Palo Alto Networks with a buy rating, highlighting its status as a 'best-in-class' player in cybersecurity, combining multiple growth engines and strong product breadth, which is expected to attract more investor interest in its sustained growth potential.
- Optimistic Tesla Outlook: Bank of America reiterates Tesla as a buy, anticipating that the upcoming Q1 earnings report will focus on its robotaxi deployments aimed at disrupting the rideshare market and capturing a portion of the $1 trillion market opportunity, showcasing its strategic advantage amid increasing competition.
- Packaging Industry Growth Potential: Raymond James upgrades Ball Corp to outperform, citing the company's strong performance in cost pass-throughs and structural support for the beverage sector, predicting it will achieve outsized growth compared to its packaging peers.
- Biopharma Market Prospects: Canaccord initiates AbbVie with a buy rating and a price target of $262, emphasizing its position as a 'core holding' and showcasing its strong growth potential and market appeal in the biopharmaceutical sector.
See More
ExxonMobil Stock Rises 18% Amid Oil Price Surge
- Stock Performance: ExxonMobil (XOM) has seen its stock rise nearly 18% in 2026, even as the S&P 500 remains flat, primarily due to a surge in oil prices driven by the conflict in the Persian Gulf, indicating strong market optimism about its potential earnings.
- Oil Price Outlook: The bullish case hinges on the belief that the market is underestimating the potential for a 'higher for longer' oil price, although analyses suggest that the market expects the conflict's impact on oil prices to be short-lived, which could affect ExxonMobil's long-term investment value.
- Investment Risks: The bearish perspective argues that oil prices are likely to decline significantly in the coming months, suggesting that investing in ExxonMobil during a period of high prices could be a mistake, especially given the uncertainty surrounding energy infrastructure risks in the region.
- Future Growth Expectations: According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, Wall Street analysts anticipate ExxonMobil's earnings and cash flow to grow at a low-single-digit rate over the next five years, indicating that the current 2.7% dividend yield requires higher oil prices to justify its investment appeal.
See More
