Exxon Studying Buyout Targets, Including Woodside Energy
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 12 2026
0mins
Exxon studying buyout targets, including Woodside Energy, Bloomberg says
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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: 140.740
Low
114.00
Averages
132.17
High
158.00
Current: 140.740
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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- Strategic Reserve Crisis: The U.S. strategic oil reserve is nearing its lowest levels since 1983, necessitating replenishment, which highlights the tense situation in the global energy market and could lead to price increases in the future.
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- Strategic Reserve Crisis: The U.S. strategic oil reserve is nearing levels not seen since 1983, highlighting the pressure on global oil and gas supply chains and the urgent need to replenish reserves to meet future demand fluctuations.
- Changes Outside OPEC: The UAE's exit from OPEC has lifted production limits, coupled with increased U.S. exports, signaling fundamental shifts in the global energy market that could lead to greater oil and gas supply in the future, thereby impacting prices.
- Investment Strategy Shift: While investors should consider exposure to the energy sector, a conservative approach is advisable, with energy giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron being ideal choices due to their global asset distribution and robust financial health, making them well-suited to navigate market volatility.
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- Importance of Inventories: The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has led to the use of global oil inventories as a buffer against supply disruptions, but rebuilding these inventories will take time, resulting in demand being higher than normal in the short term, which could affect price stability.
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- Price Volatility Warning: Oil prices have recently fallen due to easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, yet the CEOs of Chevron and ExxonMobil caution that prices do not reflect market fundamentals, indicating that recovery may take longer than anticipated.
- Need for Inventory Rebuilding: With the U.S. strategic oil reserves at their lowest since 1983, Chevron and ExxonMobil emphasize that rebuilding inventories is crucial for restoring supply-demand balance, likely extending the energy market recovery beyond current investor expectations.
- Increased Transportation Risks: While Iranian oil tankers are now moving through the Strait of Hormuz, this high-risk transportation will require time to assess the stability of the new agreement, potentially leading to exaggerated short-term market reactions to oil price fluctuations.
- Caution from Industry Giants: As two of the world's largest energy companies, Chevron and ExxonMobil's insights into market turbulence are invaluable, and investors should heed their warnings to make informed decisions in an uncertain market environment.
See More
Major Market Indexes on Wall Street Rise
- Analyst Rating Changes: Rothschild & Co Redburn upgraded Lyft (LYFT) from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $22, believing that recent pressures on ride growth are temporary rather than structural, and that international expansion will help re-accelerate demand.
- Bullish on Energy Stocks: Bank of America upgraded Exxon Mobil (XOM) from Neutral to Buy with a price target of $154, citing that the recent pullback leaves the stock pricing Brent crude at $65/bbl long-term, while Exxon's strong execution in the Permian provides a clear growth trajectory.
- Focus on Semiconductors: Micron (MU) attracted attention as Stifel raised its price target from $550 to $1,500, modeling nearly 80% quarter-over-quarter revenue growth driven by ASP increases, while Wedbush also raised its target from $550 to $1,300.
- Market Dynamics Analysis: Major market indexes on Wall Street rose amid the Federal Reserve's hawkish policy shift, as investors balanced concerns over the Fed with optimism surrounding AI, with the S&P 500 posting weekly gains.
See More
Impact of Middle East Conflict on Energy Market
- Current Energy Market: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a tight supply of oil and natural gas globally, with expectations that Brent crude prices will fall back to $60 per barrel by 2027, although this may involve significant price fluctuations along the way.
- Strategic Reserve Crisis: The U.S. strategic oil reserve is nearing its lowest levels since 1983, necessitating replenishment, which highlights the tense situation in the global energy market and could lead to price increases in the future.
- Market Structural Changes: The UAE's exit from OPEC has lifted production limits, while the U.S. has ramped up exports, increasing global interest in energy security, factors that will reshape future oil movement patterns and may lead to heightened price volatility.
- Investment Strategy Recommendation: Investors are advised to maintain some exposure to the energy sector, particularly by choosing energy giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron, whose global asset distribution and strong financial positions can help mitigate market fluctuations.
See More
Middle East Conflict Drives Oil Prices Higher
- Market Volatility Ahead: The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has driven oil prices up, yet it is anticipated that Brent crude will fall back to around $60 per barrel by 2027, indicating that market fundamentals will soon dictate price movements.
- Strategic Reserve Crisis: The U.S. strategic oil reserve is nearing levels not seen since 1983, highlighting the pressure on global oil and gas supply chains and the urgent need to replenish reserves to meet future demand fluctuations.
- Changes Outside OPEC: The UAE's exit from OPEC has lifted production limits, coupled with increased U.S. exports, signaling fundamental shifts in the global energy market that could lead to greater oil and gas supply in the future, thereby impacting prices.
- Investment Strategy Shift: While investors should consider exposure to the energy sector, a conservative approach is advisable, with energy giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron being ideal choices due to their global asset distribution and robust financial health, making them well-suited to navigate market volatility.
See More
US Stocks Rise on US-Iran Peace Deal Optimism
- Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose 1.08%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.14%, and the Nasdaq 100 surged 2.48% as optimism over the US-Iran peace deal eased inflation risks, reflecting a positive market sentiment.
- Chip Sector Surge: Intel's stock jumped over 10% after President Trump announced a partnership with Apple to design and produce semiconductors domestically, leading the iShares Semiconductor ETF to rise more than 7%, indicating strong momentum in the tech sector.
- Energy Stocks Weaken: WTI crude oil prices fell to a 3.5-month low, causing significant declines in energy stocks, with SLB, ConocoPhillips, and Halliburton dropping over 3%, highlighting concerns over energy price volatility.
- Supportive Economic Data: Initial jobless claims fell to 226,000, close to the expected 225,000, indicating labor market strength, while the Philadelphia Fed business outlook index rose to 10.3, surpassing expectations, further boosting investor confidence.
See More
US-Iran Agreement to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
- Oil Price Fluctuations: While Iranian tankers are moving through the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices are falling due to market misconceptions about supply recovery, indicating that investor optimism regarding a quick return to normalcy may lead to increased price volatility in the future.
- Importance of Inventories: The geopolitical conflict in the Middle East has led to the use of global oil inventories as a buffer against supply disruptions, but rebuilding these inventories will take time, resulting in demand being higher than normal in the short term, which could affect price stability.
- Industry Warnings: Energy giants ExxonMobil and Chevron have warned that the current U.S. strategic oil reserves are at their lowest level since 1983, suggesting that the timeline for market normalization may be underestimated, with potential for rising oil prices ahead.
- Sustainability Risks of Agreement: Although the reopening agreement may lead to a short-term increase in oil flow, the high-risk nature of the Strait of Hormuz raises questions about the long-term viability of the deal, prompting investors to remain cautious and avoid premature optimism regarding market signals.
See More
Oil Market Recovery Faces Significant Challenges
- Price Volatility Warning: Oil prices have recently fallen due to easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, yet the CEOs of Chevron and ExxonMobil caution that prices do not reflect market fundamentals, indicating that recovery may take longer than anticipated.
- Need for Inventory Rebuilding: With the U.S. strategic oil reserves at their lowest since 1983, Chevron and ExxonMobil emphasize that rebuilding inventories is crucial for restoring supply-demand balance, likely extending the energy market recovery beyond current investor expectations.
- Increased Transportation Risks: While Iranian oil tankers are now moving through the Strait of Hormuz, this high-risk transportation will require time to assess the stability of the new agreement, potentially leading to exaggerated short-term market reactions to oil price fluctuations.
- Caution from Industry Giants: As two of the world's largest energy companies, Chevron and ExxonMobil's insights into market turbulence are invaluable, and investors should heed their warnings to make informed decisions in an uncertain market environment.
See More
