Key Stock Updates for Exxon Mobil, AMD, and Caterpillar
Zacks Research Daily Highlights: Today's report features research on 16 major stocks, including Exxon Mobil, AMD, and Caterpillar, along with two micro-cap stocks, Ohio Valley Banc and Where Food Comes From, showcasing unique insights into smaller companies.
Exxon Mobil's Performance: Exxon has seen a 9.9% year-to-date gain, driven by key oil projects and a merger with Pioneer, but faces challenges in its Chemicals Division and commodity price volatility.
AMD's Growth Factors: AMD's shares have risen 33.3% this year, fueled by strong demand for EPYC processors and AI applications, although competition from NVIDIA and Intel poses risks.
Caterpillar and Micro-Cap Stocks: Caterpillar's stock has outperformed its industry, supported by a strong backlog, while Ohio Valley Banc and Where Food Comes From have shown significant gains, driven by strategic growth and market expansion despite facing various operational challenges.
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Exxon Mobil's Q4 Earnings Outlook Amid Market Challenges
- Earnings Forecast: Analysts project Exxon Mobil's Q4 EPS at $1.68 with revenues around $82.28 billion, as lower upstream prices may weigh on results, but robust refining and record production in Guyana and the Permian Basin are expected to provide critical earnings support.
- Refining Resilience: Despite market headwinds, Exxon reported $7.5 billion in earnings in Q3, driven by record refinery throughput and over $14 billion in structural cost savings since 2019, showcasing the strength of its integrated business model.
- Venezuela Opportunity: With the Trump administration urging U.S. oil majors to rebuild Venezuela's energy sector, Exxon leadership is open to evaluating re-entry, although experts caution about historical risks of expropriation in this politically volatile environment.
- Future Growth Strategy: The company reaffirmed its “League of Our Own” strategy, with 10 major project startups expected to contribute over $3 billion in additional earnings by 2026, while maintaining a $20 billion annual share buyback program to return significant value to shareholders.

US Stocks Plummet as Microsoft Reports Disappointing Earnings
- Microsoft's Earnings Decline: Microsoft shares plummeted over 12% after reporting disappointing cloud business growth, significantly impacting the broader market, particularly technology stocks.
- Meta Platforms' Strong Rebound: Meta Platforms' stock rose more than 7% after reporting Q4 revenue of $59.89 billion, exceeding market expectations, thus providing a positive influence on the market.
- Surge in Energy Prices: WTI crude oil prices increased by over 3% to a 4.25-month high, driven by President Trump's call for a nuclear deal with Iran, boosting energy producers' stock prices.
- Unemployment Claims Data: Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 1,000 to 209,000, indicating a slightly weaker labor market, while continuing claims dropped to a six-month low, suggesting overall market strength.









