Exxon Mobil Stock (NYSE:XOM), Trade Ideas

Exxon Mobil

ExxonMobil is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. In 2023, it produced 2.4 million barrels of liquids and 7.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. At the end of 2023, reserves were 16.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent, 66% of which were liquids. The company is one the world's largest refiners with a total global refining capacity of 4.5 million barrels of oil per day and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of commodity and specialty chemicals.

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Wall Street&#39;s Most Accurate Analysts&#39; Views On 3 Energy Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields

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Corporate profit growth rose in Q3 2023 and is expected to continue in Q1.

Can Magnificent 7 Help Script Market Turnaround? Earnings Pick Up Pace With Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet And Tesla Expected This Week

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On CNBC’s &#34;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#34; Jim Cramer recommended buying either Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) or buy Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), in case you want to own  Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc.

Jim Cramer Recommends Buying Ethereum Or Bitcoin Instead Of This Stock: &#39;Let&#39;s Not Fool Around&#39;

Exxon Mobil Corp

XOMA Corp

XOMA Corporation - Depositary Shares Rep Series B 8.375% Cumulative Preferred Stock

XOMA Corporation - 8.625% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock

Tidal ETF Trust II YieldMax XOM Option Income Strategy ETF

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments">high dividend payout.</a>
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga&#8217;s extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the energy sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">APA Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NYSE">APA</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.08%</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Mark Lear maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $33 to $35 on April 19, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>JP Morgan analyst Arun Jayaram maintained a Neutral rating and boosted the price target from $38 to $40 on April 11, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Recent News: APA is scheduled to host a conference call to discuss its first-quarter 2024 results on May 2, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.15%</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $130 to $145 on April 18, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%.</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Roger Read maintained an Overweight rating and boosted the price target from $126 to $138 on April 4, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.</li>
<li>Recent News: Exxon Mobil said it will release its first quarter 2024 financial results on April 26, 2024.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOG#NYSE">NOG</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 3.75%</li>
<li>Piper Sandler analyst Mark Lear maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $38 to $42 on April 19, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 76%.</li>
<li>RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold reiterated an Outperform rating with a price target of $46 on March 6, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On April 16, Northern Oil and Gas issued an update regarding first quarter hedging results and stock repurchases.</li>
</ul>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38370585/investor-optimism-improves-but-fear-greed-index-remains-in-fear-zone">Investor Optimism Improves, But Fear &amp; Greed Index Remains In &#8216;Fear&#8217; Zone</a>

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts' Views On 3 Energy Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields

As the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38342737/nasdaq-100-notches-worst-day-since-late-2023-worst-week-since-late-2022-as-ai-driven-chipmakers-tu">market runs into rough weather,</a> the importance of the upcoming week&#8217;s earnings cannot be emphasized enough. A lot is riding on the earnings reports of companies like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Alphabet, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (GOOG).
The Season So Far: The percentage of S&amp;P 500 companies that have reported positive earning surprises and the magnitude of earnings surprises are at or above their 10-year averages, <a href="https://insight.factset.com/sp-500-earnings-season-update-april-19-2024?utm_source=Direct&amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;utm_campaign=FO-04-19-2024&amp;utm_content=httpsinsightfactsetcomsp500earningsseasonupdateapril192024">said</a> FactSet in its report released Friday. That said, substantial downward revisions to earnings per share (EPS) estimates of two healthcare companies have led to a decline in earnings growth over the past two weeks.
The combined earnings per share growth rate of S&amp;P 500 companies, considering both the already reported actual results and the estimates for those yet to report, is at 0.5%, according to FactSet. The metric, however, fell from the 0.9% estimated previous week and the 3.4% estimated at the end of the first quarter. Earnings growth for the quarter may extend the positive growth streak to three quarters.
So far, 14% of the S&amp;P 500 companies have reported March quarter results. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-tech-stocks">Best Tech Stocks To Buy Right Now</a>
Look Ahead: The upcoming week will likely feature earnings releases from 158 S&amp;P 500 companies, including 11 Dow 30 components. With the bank earnings tapering off, the spotlight shifts to tech companies, as they begin to roll out their quarterly scorecard this week.
Apart from some big techs, which are part of the group called the &#8220;Magnificent Seven,&#8221; homebuilders, defense contractors, airlines and transportation companies are also due to release their quarterly reports. 
All eyes are focused on Tesla as analysts expect a downbeat report from the company. Analysts see the scope of a further contraction in margin and potentially a double miss yet again in the first quarter.
AI stalwarts Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta are widely expected to report strong results. Following the recent tech-led sell-off, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said, &#8220;We believe 1Q earnings will be a major positive catalyst for the tech sector and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38252477/why-microsoft-alphabet-amazon-palantir-and-meta-could-rise-15-in-2024-according-to-">expect tech stocks to be up another 15% for the year</a> adding to the strong start to 2024.&#8221;
The earnings schedule of key names are as follows:
Monday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACI#NYSE">ACI</a>), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>), Zions Bancorporation, National Association (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZION#NASDAQ">ZION</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMP#NYSE">AMP</a>), Nucor Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NUE#NYSE">NUE</a>) Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CLF#NYSE">CLF</a>), Packaging Corporation of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PKG#NYSE">PKG</a>) and SAP SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAP#NYSE">SAP</a>), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DGX#NYSE">DGX</a>)</li>
</ul>
Tuesday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>), Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FI#NYSE">FI</a>), General Electric Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GE#NYSE">GE</a>), General Motors Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), JetBlue Airways Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JBLU#NASDAQ">JBLU</a>), Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMB#NYSE">KMB</a>), Novartis AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>), PepsiCo. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NYSE">PEP</a>), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PHM#NYSE">PHM</a>), Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPOT#NYSE">SPOT</a>), United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) and Xerox Holdings Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XRX#NYSE">XRX</a>), Halliburton Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Visa, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Texas Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>), Tesla, Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STLD#NASDAQ">STLD</a>), Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STX#NASDAQ">STX</a>), Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAT#NASDAQ">MAT</a>), Chubb Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CB#NYSE">CB</a>), Canadian National Railway Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNI#NYSE">CNI</a>) and Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKR#NASDAQ">BKR</a>)</li>
</ul>
Wednesday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMO#NYSE">TMO</a>), Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ODFL#NASDAQ">ODFL</a>), Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NSC#NYSE">NSC</a>), Humana Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUM#NYSE">HUM</a>), Hasbro, Inc. (NASDA: HAS), General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GD#NYSE">GD</a>), Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSX#NYSE">BSX</a>), Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIIB#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) and AT&amp;T Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/T#NYSE">T</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>), Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>), ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOW#NYSE">NOW</a>), QuantumScape Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QS#NYSE">QS</a>), O&#8217;Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORLY#NASDAQ">ORLY</a>), Meta Platforms, Meritage Homes Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTH#NYSE">MTH</a>), Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LRCX#NASDAQ">LRCX</a>), Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KNX#NYSE">KNX</a>), International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/F#NYSE">F</a>) and Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>)</li>
</ul>
Thursday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>), American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>), AstraZeneca Plc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>), Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>), CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMS#NYSE">CMS</a>), Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMCSA#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>), Dow Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOW#NYSE">DOW</a>), Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOG#NYSE">HOG</a>), Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTZ#NASDAQ">HTZ</a>), Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>), Merck &amp; Co., Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), Mobileye Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MBLY#NASDAQ">MBLY</a>), Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>), Newmont Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), Sanofi (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNY#NASDAQ">SNY</a>), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) and STMicroelectronics N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STM#NYSE">STM</a>)</li>
<li>After the close: Alphabet, Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BYD#NYSE">BYD</a>), Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GILD#NASDAQ">GILD</a>), Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNPR#NYSE">JNPR</a>), KLA Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KLAC#NASDAQ">KLAC</a>), Microsoft, Roku, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ROKU#NASDAQ">ROKU</a>), Teladoc Health, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDOC#NYSE">TDOC</a>), T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TMUS#NASDAQ">TMUS</a>) and Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>)</li>
</ul>
Friday 
<ul>
<li>Before the bell: AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), Aon plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AON#NYSE">AON</a>), Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALV#NYSE">ALV</a>), AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AN#NYSE">AN</a>), Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/B#NYSE">B</a>), Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHTR#NASDAQ">CHTR</a>), Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CL#NYSE">CL</a>), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWL#NASDAQ">NWL</a>)</li>
</ul>
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of the broader S&amp;P 500 Index, ended Friday&#8217;s session down 0.87% at $495.16, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">Benzinga Pro data. </a>The ETF has pulled back from its all-time high (intraday) of $524.61 hit on March 28. The Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), an ETF levered more to high-profile, non-financial tech companies, has lost 7.72% from its all-time intraday high of $449.34 (March 21).
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38342737/nasdaq-100-notches-worst-day-since-late-2023-worst-week-since-late-2022-as-ai-driven-chipmakers-tu">Nvidia In Correction Territory — Did AI-Led Tech Stock Bubble Just Burst? This Data Point Offers A Clue.</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

On CNBC&rsquo;s &quot;Mad Money Lightning Round,&quot; Jim Cramer recommended buying either Ethereum&nbsp;(CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) or buy Bitcoin (CRYPTO:&nbsp;BTC), in case you want to own Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mara#NASDAQ">MARA</a>). &quot;Let&rsquo;s not <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38306482/bitcoin-could-potentially-dip-below-60k-before-hate-halving-rally-says-crypto-analyst">fool around,&quot; he added</a>.
On April 10, JPMorgan analyst Reginald Smith maintained Marathon Digital with an Underweight and raised the price target from $16 to $16.50.
When asked about Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xom#NYSE">XOM</a>), he said, &quot;Parabolic move, my friend. We don&rsquo;t like parabolic moves, that&rsquo;s a very good example.&quot;
On April 15, Exxon Mobil awarded a large contract to TechnipFMC plc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fti#NYSE">FTI</a>) for its Guyana&rsquo;s Stabroek Block. TechnipFMC will supply subsea production systems for the Whiptail project.
&quot;When it comes to data centers, I am inclined to say that no power company is going to make money off of it. Better to buy Vertiv (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vrt#NYSE">VRT</a>) or Eaton (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/etn#NYSE">ETN</a>).&quot;
&quot;That&rsquo;s the way to do it,&quot; the &quot;Mad Money&quot; host said when asked about NuScale Power Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smr#NYSE">SMR</a>).
On March 14, NuScale Power reported fourth-quarter FY23 sales growth of 35.3% year-on-year to $4.60 million, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $9.975 million.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Exxon Mobil shares fell 0.1% to settle at $118.63 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Marathon Digital shares gained 0.2% to close at $14.63 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>NuScale Power shares fell 0.8% to settle at $4.93 during Wednesday&rsquo;s session.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38307448/investor-sentiment-decreases-further-s-p-500-falls-for-fourth-straight-session"> Investor Sentiment Decreases Further, S&amp;P 500 Falls For Fourth Straight Session </a>
Image: Canva

Jim Cramer Recommends Buying Ethereum Or Bitcoin Instead Of This Stock: 'Let's Not Fool Around'

Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd maintains Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $130 to $145.

Analyst Ratings

Piper Sandler Maintains Overweight on Exxon Mobil, Raises Price Target to $145

Yesterday,&nbsp;Exxon Mobil Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) awarded a large contract to&nbsp;TechnipFMC&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTI#NYSE">FTI</a>) for its<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/b38258485/technipfmc-awarded-large-subsea-contract-for-exxonmobil-guyanas-whiptail-project" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;Guyana&#8217;s Stabroek Block</a>.
As per the terms, TechnipFMC will supply subsea production systems for the Whiptail project.
In particular, TechnipFMC will offer project management, engineering, and manufacturing to deliver 48 subsea trees and associated tooling, as well as 12 manifolds and associated controls and tie-in equipment.
For TechnipFMC, a &#8220;large&#8221; contract is between $500 million and $1 billion. This award will be included in inbound orders in the second quarter of 2024.
Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC, said: &#8220;ExxonMobil Guyana will utilize our Subsea 2.0&#xAE; systems and manifolds, which help provide schedule certainty. We have already delivered more than 100 subsea trees for ExxonMobil Guyana – the location of one of the world&#8217;s fastest developing basins – and we look forward to deepening our relationship with them through Whiptail.&#8221;
Last week, Exxon and&nbsp;Hess Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>) made a final investment decision for the Whiptail development offshore Guyana following receiving the required&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38221117/guyanas-oil-spigot-wide-open-exxon-hess-sanction-massive-12-7b-oil-project" rel="noreferrer noopener">government and regulatory approvals</a>.&nbsp;
The Whiptail project, worth $12.7 billion, will target an estimated resource base of more than 850 million barrels of oil and include up to 10 drill centers with 48 production and injection wells.
Investors can gain exposure to the XOM stock via&nbsp;Energy Select Sector&nbsp;SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) and&nbsp;IShares U.S. Energy ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYE#NYSE">IYE</a>).
Price Action: XOM shares are down 0.74% at $118.807 on the last check Tuesday.
Photo: Del Henderson Jr. via Shutterstock

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Exxon Taps TechnipFMC For Subsea Gear In Guyana's $12.7B Whiptail Project

TechnipFMC will provide project management, engineering, and manufacturing to deliver 48 subsea trees and associated tooling, as well as 12 manifolds and associated controls and tie-in equipment.&nbsp;TechnipFMC currently employs nearly 140 Guyanese, and expects to continue to hire and train additional local staff in support of this award.&nbsp;For TechnipFMC, a &quot;large&quot; contract is between&nbsp;$500 million&nbsp;and&nbsp;$1 billion.&nbsp;This award will be included in inbound orders in&nbsp;the&nbsp;second quarter&nbsp;of 2024.

TechnipFMC Secures Large Subsea Contract For ExxonMobil Guyana's Whiptail Project; No Terms Dsiclosed

The overall stock market dropped sharply Friday, with the SPDR S&amp;P 500 Index (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) closing down more than 1% in part due to investors&#8217; fears of an imminent attack by Iran against Israel. While traders were selling stocks, they were buying oil in anticipation of a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38252086/oil-gold-markets-swing-from-war-fears-to-calm-over-israel-iran-tensions-what-analys"> price hike due to a military escalation</a> in the Middle East, where much of the world's oil is produced. 
What Happened: Those fears were realized over the weekend with an Iranian attack on Israel, although a coalition of military forces from Israel, the United States, France and other countries defended a majority of the drone attacks. Still, many experts worry that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East could keep oil prices higher for longer, which increases the probability of a recession in the U.S. and other countries. Analyst Take: Nick Colas, the co-founder of DataTrek Research, said that if oil prices hover at prices above $100 a barrel, a recession in the U.S. becomes increasingly more likely. Oil prices sat around $85 a barrel for WTI on Monday, trading lower after Friday's spike higher. Quoted: "Crude prices are our chief concern," Colas said in a<a href="https://datatrekresearch.com/category/blog/?v=7516fd43adaa"> recent DataTrek newsletter.</a> "But we are a long way away from the $125/barrel level that would almost certainly cause a recession if sustained." Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38252086/oil-gold-markets-swing-from-war-fears-to-calm-over-israel-iran-tensions-what-analys">Oil, Gold Markets Swing From War Fears To Calm Over Israel-Iran Tensions: What Analysts Expect Next</a>
The price of oil and its impact on macroeconomics is complex. For example, sometimes when oil prices are rising it is a sign of a strong economy as increased demand for oil indicates strong economic activity globally. But, in the case of oil prices rising dramatically due to geopolitical factors like war in the Middle East, it could take money out of the pockets of consumers as they are required to pay more at the gas pumps. If Iran's attack triggers a broader conflict in the Middle East, it becomes more likely that oil prices will continue to rise. Gas prices have already gone up dramatically in recent months, reaching a national average above $3.60 according to AAA. Colas says that if gas prices surpass $5 a gallon, it could be very bad news for the economy. But, Monday's price action should give drivers a sliver of hope, as oil prices dipped. Most major energy companies, like Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) dipped on Monday as oil prices also dropped. 
There is a lag between crude oil prices and the cost of gasoline at the pump. Typically, when oil prices rise or drop, it takes a few weeks for those price changes to be reflected at the gas station.
But, if Monday's trend continues and the Middle East is able to avoid a further escalation, consumers may soon see relief at the pumps. If the opposite happens, it could be bad news, both for your portfolio as well as your wallet at the gas station. 
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/04/38253553/is-ethereum-dead-this-bitcoin-trader-thinks-so-solana-attacking-from-left-flank">Is Ethereum Dead? This Bitcoin Trader Thinks So: &#8216;Solana Attacking From Left Flank&#8217;</a>
Image generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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How Iran's Attack Against Israel Will Impact Gas Prices You Pay At The Pump

U.S. energy stocks, as tracked by the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>), could potentially notch their ninth straight positive week, marking the longest pace of weekly gains since May 2007. 
Oil prices surged sharply on Friday following reports suggesting that an Iranian assault on Israel could potentially occur within <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38217135/israel-prepares-for-possible-iranian-retaliation-within-48-hours-report">the next 48 hours.</a> The Times of Israel reported that &#8220;Iran attack of 100 drones, dozens of missiles could be launched at Israel today.&#8221;
The Israeli Minister of National Security convened a meeting with top officials from the police, civil defense, and emergency services to ensure their readiness for a potential Iranian strike, as reported by Sky News Arabia.
The White House confirmed on Friday that Iran&#8217;s threats to Israel are &#8220;real and credible,&#8221; emphasizing that the United States intends to do everything it can to ensure that Israel is able to defend itself.
Adding to the rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the Foreign Office of the United Kingdom has cautioned its citizens against traveling to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory due to the &#8220;possibility of an attack on Israeli territory from Iran." 
The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude, as tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>) spiked 2.8% to above $87 a barrel, while Brent prices surged to $91 a barrel, reaching the highest levels in seven months. 
Crude is up by 22% year-to-date, while shares of major U.S. energy companies have risen 16%. 
Chart: US Energy Stocks Eye 9-Week Of Gains
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="495" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12111906/image-37-1024x495.png" alt="" class="wp-image-289826" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12111906/image-37-1024x495.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12111906/image-37-300x145.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12111906/image-37-768x372.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12111906/image-37-1536x743.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12111906/image-37.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Energy Stocks Rising Friday</h3>
During a day characterized by notably heightened market volatility, with the CBOE VIX surging by more than 20%, U.S. energy stocks emerged as the sole S&amp;P 500 sector to remain in positive territory.
Here is a snapshot of the top 10 performers within the XLE ETF on Friday. 
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>1-Day %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>)</td>
<td>2.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NYSE">FANG</a>)</td>
<td>1.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRO#NYSE">MRO</a>)</td>
<td>1.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Devon Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DVN#NYSE">DVN</a>)</td>
<td>1.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>)</td>
<td>0.95%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PXD#NYSE">PXD</a>)</td>
<td>0.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRGP#NYSE">TRGP</a>)</td>
<td>0.72%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EQT Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQT#NYSE">EQT</a>)</td>
<td>0.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>APA Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APA#NYSE">APA</a>)</td>
<td>0.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ConocoPhillips (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COP#NYSE">COP</a>)</td>
<td>0.58%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 11:30 a.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
Read Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38212196/inflation-upends-feds-plans-when-do-wall-street-analysts-expect-first-interest-rate">Inflation Upends Fed&#8217;s Plans: When Do Wall Street Analysts Expect First Interest Rate Cut?</a>
Image: Shutterstock

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Oil Prices Spike Above $90 A Barrel As Iran-Israel Tensions Escalate: US Energy Stocks Eye 9th Week Of Gains

Exxon Mobil Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and&nbsp;Hess Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>) made a final investment decision for the Whiptail development offshore Guyana following receiving the required&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/04/b38217975/exxonmobil-guyana-moves-forward-with-sixth-offshore-development" rel="noreferrer noopener">government and regulatory approvals</a>.&nbsp;
The Whiptail project, worth $12.7 billion, will target an estimated resource base of more than 850 million barrels of oil and include up to 10 drill centers with<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38218201" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;48 production and injection wells.</a>
Notably, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited holds 45% interest in the Stabroek block, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest.
Related:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/02/37259657/exxon-considers-natural-gas-project-in-guyana-report" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exxon Considers Natural Gas Project In Guyana: Report</a>
Whiptail, the sixth project on the Stabroek block, is projected to add around 250,000 barrels of daily capacity by the end of 2027.
The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres, and the production from the six Stabroek Block developments is expected to generate tens of billions of dollars of revenue.&nbsp;
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38143113/guyanas-oil-spigot-sputters-production-delays-reportedly-hit-revenue" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guyana&#8217;s Oil Spigot Sputters: Production Delays Reportedly Hit Revenue</a>
The cumulative spend of ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors with Guyanese suppliers since 2015 surpassed $1.5 billion at the end of 2023.
The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Whiptail project (to be named Jaguar) is under construction, and three FPSOs are currently operating and producing over 600,000 barrels of oil daily.&nbsp;
The companies said that the construction is underway on FPSOs for the Yellowtail and Uaru projects, with Yellowtail and Uaru anticipated to start production in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
&#8220;We are excited to sanction Whiptail, our sixth oil development on the Stabroek Block, and remain on track to have six FPSOs online by the end of 2027 with a total gross production capacity of approximately 1.3 million barrels of oil per day,&#8221; Hess Corp CEO John Hess said.&nbsp;
Price Action: XOM shares are up 1.29% at $123.36, and HES shares are up 0.47% at $158.38 on the last check Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock

Guidance

Guyana's Oil Spigot Wide Open: Exxon, Hess Sanction Massive $12.7B Oil Project

ExxonMobil has made a final investment decision for the Whiptail development offshore Guyana, after receiving the required government and regulatory approvals.
Whiptail, the sixth project on the Stabroek block, is expected to add approximately 250,000 barrels of daily capacity by the end of 2027.
The&nbsp;$12.7 billion&nbsp;Whiptail project will include up to 10 drill centers with 48 production and injection wells.
There are currently 6,200 Guyanese working in support of Stabroek block operations&mdash;which is&nbsp;70%&nbsp;of the workforce.
The cumulative spend of ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors with Guyanese suppliers since 2015 surpassed&nbsp;$1.5 billion&nbsp;at the end of 2023.

Exxon Mobil Corporation Says Its Guyana Unit Is Moving Forward With Sixth Offshore Development, Project Will Add Approximately 250,000 Barrels Of Daily Capacity By 2027-end; Development Marks $12.7B Additional Investment In Guyana's Economy

UBS analyst Josh Silverstein maintains Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $133 to $150.

UBS Maintains Buy on Exxon Mobil, Raises Price Target to $150

Scotiabank analyst Paul Cheng maintains Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $114 to $129.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Perform on Exxon Mobil, Raises Price Target to $129

Scotiabank&nbsp;analyst Paul Y. Cheng upgraded&nbsp;Chevron Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) to Sector Outperform from Sector Perform and increased the price&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CVX/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">target to $195 (from $170)</a>.
The analyst says that Chevron has the highest oil torque among the integrated super majors, and can enjoy macro tailwinds over the next few years. 
Also, the analyst remains optimistic that Chevron will prevail in the arbitration against&nbsp;Exxon Mobil Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) and&nbsp;CNOOC&nbsp;in Guyana, which could serve as an attractive entry point.
The oil and gas production in Guyana reportedly hit construction delays and has threatened to curtail the rising oil hotspot's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38143113/guyanas-oil-spigot-sputters-production-delays-reportedly-hit-revenue">revenue by about $1 billion this year</a>.
The analyst raised FY24 adjusted EPS outlook to $12.70 from $10.90.
Moreover, the analyst&#8217;s bullish stance also reflects an increase in the near- and long-term oil price outlook by Scotia.
In particular, the analyst assumes a higher long-term oil price deck of $75/bbl Brent vs. their previous expectation of $65/bbl in 2024.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;SPDR Select Sector Fund – Energy Select Sector&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)&nbsp;and&nbsp;IShares U.S. Energy ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYE#NYSE">IYE</a>).
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38158467/chevron-exits-myanmars-yadana-gas-field-report" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chevron Exits Myanmar&#8217;s Yadana Gas Field</a>
Price Action: CVX shares are down 0.52% at $161.83 on the last check Thursday.
Image: Shutterstock

Upgrades

Black Gold Bonanza: Analyst Bets On Chevron, Citing Price Outlook

Chevron&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) Chief Executive Officer Michael Wirth saw a significant increase in his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0000093410/000119312524091327/d557504ddef14a.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">pay</a>&nbsp;in 2023, reaching $26.5 million, marking over 12% rise from the previous year.
This rise in compensation stands above the median pay raise for the company&#8217;s employees, according to a filing disclosed on Wednesday.
The disclosed numbers highlight a gap between executive compensation and the earnings of Chevron&#8217;s workforce, consisting of 45,511 employees.
The median annual pay for Chevron employees worldwide climbed to $175,673 in 2023. In 2022, the medium compensation for workers had declined 12% to $161,488, while Wirth&#8217;s pay had increased 4%, Reuters reported.
Chevron attributed Wirth&#8217;s compensation to his successful execution of the company's financial priorities, including dividends, maintaining capital discipline in traditional and new energies, reducing debt by over $4 billion, and repurchasing $14.9 billion shares.
Wirth&#8217;s compensation was also positively influenced by Chevron&#8217;s proposed acquisition of oil producer&nbsp;Hess&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>), which strengthened the advantaged portfolio.
However, this acquisition faces scrutiny from rival Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) through an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37795056">arbitration process.</a>
Notably, Chevron allocated a record $26.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in 2023, reflecting an 18% increase from 2022.
Another noteworthy executive, Mark Nelson, who was promoted to vice chair, received a substantial pay increase of 61.5% in 2023, bringing his compensation to $12.2 million.
Price Action: CVX shares are trading lower by 0.53% at $161.15 on the last check Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by Jonathan Weiss on Shutterstock

Behind The Numbers: Chevron CEO's Pay Soars To $26.5M

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Exxon Mobil. Our analysis of options history for Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) revealed 24 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 37% of traders were bullish, while 62% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 5 were puts, with a value of $2,295,192, and 19 were calls, valued at $1,889,609.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $100.0 to $150.0 for Exxon Mobil over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Exxon Mobil's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Exxon Mobil's significant trades, within a strike price range of $100.0 to $150.0, over the past month.
<h3>Exxon Mobil Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712763058_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>XOM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$5.75</td>
<td>$5.85</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$2.0M</td>
<td>919</td>
<td>65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/17/24</td>
<td>$22.1</td>
<td>$21.6</td>
<td>$21.85</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$362.7K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
<td>336</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$6.0</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$5.95</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$138.0K</td>
<td>20.9K</td>
<td>130</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$136.8K</td>
<td>20.9K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/21/24</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$5.9</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$136.8K</td>
<td>20.9K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Exxon Mobil</h3>
ExxonMobil is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. In 2023, it produced 2.4 million barrels of liquids and 7.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. At the end of 2023, reserves were 16.9 billion barrels of oil equivalent, 66% of which were liquids. The company is one the world's largest refiners with a total global refining capacity of 4.5 million barrels of oil per day and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of commodity and specialty chemicals.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Exxon Mobil, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Exxon Mobil</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 4,793,701, with XOM's price up by 0.05%, positioned at $121.24.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 16 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Exxon Mobil</h3>
5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $137.2.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Wells Fargo continues to hold a Overweight rating for Exxon Mobil, targeting a price of $138. </li>
<li>An analyst from Piper Sandler persists with their Overweight rating on Exxon Mobil, maintaining a target price of $130. </li>
<li>An analyst from Truist Securities persists with their Buy rating on Exxon Mobil, maintaining a target price of $146. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Mizuho keeps a Neutral rating on Exxon Mobil with a target price of $125. </li>
<li>An analyst from Barclays downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $147. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Exxon Mobil options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Exxon Mobil Options Trading: A Deep Dive into Market Sentiment

Barclays analyst Betty Jiang initiates coverage on Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) with a Overweight rating and announces Price Target of $147.

Initiation

Barclays Initiates Coverage On Exxon Mobil with Overweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $147

Three energy stocks are among the top 10 performers within the S&amp;P 500 since the beginning of the year, representing a significant paradigm shift compared to the underperformance of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-energy-stocks">energy sector throughout 2023.</a>
A significant factor contributing to the outperformance of energy stocks since the year&#8217;s onset has been the sharp increase in oil prices.
The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude, tracked by the United States Oil Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>), has risen by 20% year to date. This surge can be attributed to a combination of factors including growing demand, limited OPEC+ supply, and escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Israel and Iran.
According to the latest forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Brent crude oil spot price is expected to average $90 per barrel in the second quarter of 2024, which is $2 higher than previous estimates. 
The forecast for the average price in 2024 is $89 per barrel. This uptick reflects the EIA&#8217;s anticipation of substantial global oil inventory declines during this quarter and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
Additionally, the retail gasoline price is projected to average $3.60 per gallon in 2024, up from the previous estimate of $3.50 per gallon.
As of April 9, 2024, the&nbsp;EnergySelect Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) is up 16% year-to-date, outperforming all other S&amp;P 500 sectors.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">3 Energy Firms Among Top 10 S&amp;P 500 Performers Year to Date</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>Price Chg. % (YTD)</td>
<td>Sector</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMCI#NASDAQ">SMCI</a>)</td>
<td>215.81%</td>
<td>Information Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>70.28%</td>
<td>Information Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>)</td>
<td>59.83%</td>
<td>Utilities</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>)</td>
<td>44.88%</td>
<td>Communication Services</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPC#NYSE">MPC</a>)</td>
<td>42.65%</td>
<td>Energy</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>)</td>
<td>42.55%</td>
<td>Information Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NRG#NYSE">NRG</a>)</td>
<td>39.77%</td>
<td>Utilities</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Western Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDC#NASDAQ">WDC</a>)</td>
<td>38.09%</td>
<td>Information Tech</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VLO#NYSE">VLO</a>)</td>
<td>36.10%</td>
<td>Energy</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FANG#NYSE">FANG</a>)</td>
<td>32.23%</td>
<td>Energy</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">U.S. Energy Companies Report Their Earnings In April 2024</h1>
Below is a list of large-cap U.S. energy stocks set to report their first quarter 2024 earnings by the end of April: 
<ul>
<li>Friday, Apr. 12, 2024: Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMI#NYSE">KMI</a>) </li>
<li>Friday, Apr. 19, 2024: Schlumberger N.V. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>), Woodside Energy Group ADR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WDS#NYSE">WDS</a>) </li>
<li>Tuesday, Apr. 23, 2024: Halliburton Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAL#NYSE">HAL</a>) </li>
<li>Wednesday, Apr. 24, 2024: Cenovus Energy Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVE#NYSE">CVE</a>), EQT Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQT#NYSE">EQT</a>) </li>
<li>Thursday, Apr. 25, 2024: Valero Energy, Hess Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HES#NYSE">HES</a>) </li>
<li>Friday, Apr. 26, 2024: Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>), Chevron Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>), Phillips 66 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSX#NYSE">PSX</a>), Imperial Oil Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IMO#NYSE">IMO</a>). </li>
<li>Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2024: Marathon Petroleum, ONEOK Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OKE#NYSE">OKE</a>), MPLX LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPLX#NYSE">MPLX</a>), Diamondback, Cameco Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCJ#NYSE">CCJ</a>)</li>
</ul>
Read Now: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38164785/bank-of-america-sees-gold-at-3-000-warns-of-a-copper-supply-crisis-metals-dance-to-">Bank Of America Sees Gold At $3,000, Warns Of A Copper Supply Crisis: Metals &#8216;Dance To Their Own Tune&#8217;</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

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3 Energy Stocks Stand Among S&P 500's Top 10 Performers In 2024 As Oil Prices Reach $90

The&nbsp;oil and gas production in Guyana reportedly hit construction delays and has threatened to curtail the rising oil hotspot&#8217;s revenue by about $1 billion this year.
Guyana&#8217;s $1.9 billion gas-to-power project is facing legal battles and potential cost overruns, reported Reuters.
As per the report, the first phase of a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant is running six months later than scheduled, and full operation is not expected until the fourth quarter of 2025.
Exxon Mobil Corporation&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XOM#NYSE">XOM</a>) is building a 140-mile (225-km) gas pipeline from its offshore Stabroek block to supply the government&#8217;s project onshore, as per the report.
Exxon Guyana country manager Alistair Routledge said the company&#8217;s part of the project (worth about $1 billion) will be ready by year-end, as promised to Guyana.
The Stabroek block, the site of the country&#8217;s first commercial oil and gas discovery in 2015, currently produces crude &#8211; about 645,000 barrels per day (bpd), and the new power plant will be the first to use the related gas produced from the oil field that, to date, has been re-injected underground.
Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/37893129" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exxon Mobil&#8217;s LNG Expansion On Track To Double By 2030: Report</a>
As per the report, the completion of the gas pipeline will require Exxon to pause production in the third quarter at two oil production vessels to connect them to the undersea pipeline.
As per the report, the executive said, &#8220;Exxon is not worried about having to shut production this year for a project that will not be ready to accept the gas at least until sometime in 2025&#8221;.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/38097868" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exxon&#8217;s Earnings Amidst Oil Price Challenges Has Bright Spots, Says Analyst</a>
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Energy Select Sector&nbsp;SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) and&nbsp;IShares U.S. Energy ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYE#NYSE">IYE</a>).
Price Action: XOM shares are down 0.17% at $121.17 on the last check Monday.
Photo: Del Henderson Jr. via Shutterstock

Guyana's Oil Spigot Sputters: Production Delays Reportedly Hit Revenue

<ul>
<li>Carbonate fuel cell technology captures CO2 emissions from industrial sources, while simultaneously generating electricity and hydrogen, valuable co-products that can reduce the cost of carbon capture and storage. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Updated terms of agreement provide that FuelCell Energy can market its original generation of carbon capture technology in addition to a modified version of its original technology that has been enhanced with innovations from the companies' jointly developed design. &nbsp;</li>
<li>Pilot project to test jointly developed carbon capture technology proceeding at Esso Nederland BV's Rotterdam Manufacturing Complex; project start-up expected in early 2026. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
DANBURY, Conn., April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FCEL#NASDAQ">FCEL</a>) and ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company (EMTEC) have updated and extended a joint development agreement (JDA) governing the companies' development of unique technology that captures CO2 emissions directly from industrial sources while producing electricity and hydrogen simultaneously. As a result, access to the technology could be accelerated for commercial customers.
The JDA between FuelCell Energy and EMTEC has been extended through December 31, 2026, to allow for continued development work for the technology, including support of the pilot project at the Esso Nederland BV Rotterdam Manufacturing Complex. The pilot project is co-funded by the European Union under the Emissions Trading System Innovation Fund and by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency by means of a Demonstration Energy and Climate Innovation (DEI+) grant.
The agreement allows FuelCell Energy to incorporate elements of the jointly developed technology into existing carbon capture products currently being marketed to customers. This is expected to accelerate delivery of the technology to the market while the next generation cell and module design is being demonstrated in Rotterdam.
The jointly developed carbon capture fuel cell technology to be demonstrated in Rotterdam features an optimized design for large scale installations. The technology, which captures carbon while simultaneously generating electricity and hydrogen, could improve the economics of carbon capture and could potentially lower the barrier to broader adoption of carbon capture in the marketplace.
Jason Few, CEO and president of FuelCell Energy said, "Through this updated agreement, we can move more quickly to provide access to this superior technology in our existing platform targeting small to mid-scale opportunities while we demonstrate large scale carbon capture at Esso's refinery in Rotterdam."
He added, "Reaching this stage is a significant milestone for FuelCell Energy, as the technology so far has met or exceeded key technical performance criteria, and that's a victory for the talented scientists and engineers from both of our companies. It also reinforces our view that there are significant commercial possibilities for this technology to enable a world empowered by clean energy."
JDA to Help Accelerate Delivery of Technology's Jointly Developed Innovations The JDA extension provides FuelCell Energy the opportunity to pursue carbon capture opportunities with customers using the optimized carbon capture cell architecture within our current generation module design incorporating select improvements derived from our joint development work. We believe this will accelerate delivery of the benefits of the technology to market while the next generation cell and module design are being demonstrated in Rotterdam. In addition, it will support future pioneer project deployments of the jointly developed technology that the companies anticipate pursuing with select customers.
We believe the ability to incorporate improvements from the JDA into FuelCell Energy's current generation modules will enhance the capabilities of our power, hydrogen, and carbon recovery solutions and provide the ability to offer more attractive near-term carbon capture solutions.
Commercial Framework to be Outlined
Along with the execution of the JDA extension, FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil intend to negotiate a commercial framework aimed at enabling deployments of the carbonate fuel cell technology for carbon capture.
In addition, FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil will continue engaging the industrial emitter market, with a focus on demonstrating the unique value proposition offered by the ability to capture CO2 emissions from an external source and produce electricity and hydrogen simultaneously.
Manufacturing of the modules for the Rotterdam demonstration has begun in FuelCell Energy's Torrington, Connecticut, manufacturing facility.
Jointly Developed Technology
FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil's 10-year-long working relationship has focused on innovating technology that can significantly reduce CO2 emissions from emission-intensive sectors while generating electricity and hydrogen in the process, something that no other fuel cell technology or conventional absorption systems can do.
CO2-containing flue streams, such as combustion exhaust, can be directed to the fuel cell, where electrochemical reactions produce electricity and hydrogen, while capturing and concentrating carbon dioxide for utilization or permanent sequestration and destroying NOx. By comparison, other carbon capture technologies consume energy from the host plant, grid, or onsite generation decreasing efficiency and presenting a barrier to broader adoption. CFC technology is also modular, potentially enabling carbon capture across a wide range of deployment scales.

FCEL

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Iraq To Resume Oil Exports To Turkey Via Pipeline Shuttered A Decade Ago Amid Kurdish Negotiation Deadlock

Dividend Income Summary: Lanny's March 2024 Summary

<a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a>
In February, I recommended <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/03/5-stocks-and-cryptos-to-buy-as-bitcoin-surges/">five one-month momentum plays to buy</a> as Bitcoin (<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/btc-usd/">BTC-USD</a>) prices surged. The world&rsquo;s largest cryptocurrency is a surprisingly good gauge of bubbly investor sentiment, and our writers at InvestorPlace.com had found several strong candidates to ride the market higher.



Over the following month, these picks would rocket 47%, on average. Even assets with relatively weak fundamentals will go up if investors are bullish enough.



Ticker&nbsp;Name&nbsp;18-Feb Price&nbsp;18-Mar Price&nbsp;Change&nbsp;PLUG&nbsp;Plug Power&nbsp;&nbsp;$&nbsp;4.00&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$3.30&nbsp;&nbsp;-15.9%&nbsp;SOUN&nbsp;SoundHoundAI&nbsp;&nbsp;$3.80&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$8.90&nbsp;&nbsp;133.2%&nbsp;NVDA&nbsp;Nvidia&nbsp;&nbsp;$726.10&nbsp;$878.40&nbsp;&nbsp;21.0%&nbsp;ETH&nbsp;Ethereum&nbsp;&nbsp;$2,881.30&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$3,518.40&nbsp;&nbsp;22.1%&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/cryptocurrency/sol-usd/">SOL-USD</a>Solana&nbsp;&nbsp;$112.20&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$196&nbsp;&nbsp;74.7%&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Average Return&nbsp;47.0%&nbsp;However, market sentiment has since soured. Bitcoin has lost 18% of its value since peaking in mid-March, and many smaller cryptocurrencies have fallen even further.



There are other signs of growing market fear. On Monday, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) surged from its previous Friday low of $15 to over $19.50. (Since 2001, any time the VIX has risen more than 25% in a trading day, the market would go on to underperform its long-term average by an annualized 7.4% over the following 30 days). And in commodities, safe havens like gold are notching all-time highs just as riskier bets like agricultural commodities and lithium are sinking.



That&rsquo;s predictably caused a mild market panic. Over the past week, investors have yanked $10.3 billion of cash out of the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/spy-stock-quote/">SPY</a>), the largest one-week outflow since the start of the pandemic in February 2020.



And that&rsquo;s why Luke Lango has an announcement this week. By modifying his already successful quant system, he&rsquo;s managed to create an investment tool that outperforms during good times and bad. And in his latest presentation, <a href="https://signup.investorplace.com/?cid=MKT798274&amp;eid=MKT801043&amp;step=start&amp;plcid=PLC207086&amp;SNAID=%%SNAID%%&amp;email=%%emailaddr%%&amp;encryptedSnaid=%%ENCRYPTEDSNAID%%&amp;emailjobid=%%jobid%%&amp;emailname=%%emailname_%%">The Breakout Crypto Project</a> (at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23), he explains how. <a href="https://signup.investorplace.com/?cid=MKT798274&amp;eid=MKT801043&amp;step=start&amp;plcid=PLC207086&amp;SNAID=%%SNAID%%&amp;email=%%emailaddr%%&amp;encryptedSnaid=%%ENCRYPTEDSNAID%%&amp;emailjobid=%%jobid%%&amp;emailname=%%emailname_%%">Sign up now to reserve your spot</a>.



Meanwhile, the writers at InvestorPlace.com &ndash; our free news and analysis website &ndash; have been busy analyzing crash-proof stocks to buy immediately. Though a full-blown crisis is still unlikely, tactical portfolios should consider pivoting to these far safer bets until market sentiment improves again&hellip;



<h2>5 Crash-Proof Stocks to Buy Immediately: Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/bmy1600b-300x169.jpg" alt="Bristol-Myers (BMY) logo at the top of a cellphone."><div>Source: Piotr Swat / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bmy-stock-quote/">BMY</a>) sank 10% this month after analysts downgraded the stock over debt concerns. The multinational pharma firm has $2.8 billion of bonds due this year, and high interest rates will make it far more expensive to refinance these loans. Wall Street expects Bristol Myers to eke out just 1-cent earnings per share this fiscal year.



However, these short-term moves mask a company with otherwise excellent financials. Michael Que, at InvestorPlace.com, <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-pharma-stocks-that-are-money-printing-machines-in-2024/">sees this selloff as an ideal moment to buy</a>.




In Q4 2023, Bristol exceeded analyst expectations for the top and bottom lines. The company saw revenue increase 1% year-over-year (YOY) to $11.48 billion&hellip;



Furthermore, a bundle of three recent multibillion-dollar acquisitions, RayzeBio, Mirati Therapeutics and Karuna Therapeutics, will continue to boost the company&rsquo;s growth. CEO Chris Boerner expressed particular excitement over the Karuna deal, emphasizing its potential to accelerate Bristol&rsquo;s business in neuropsychology.




Despite its short-term debt issues, Bristol-Myers Squibb&rsquo;s diversified drug portfolio generates cash flows in both good times and bad. Operating profits more than doubled during the 2008 financial crisis, and would have shown growth during the 2020 pandemic if not for accounting-related charges. BMY&rsquo;s debts are also the &ldquo;good&rdquo; type; the firm used these loans to finance a 2019 acquisition of Celgene, netting it one of the best drug pipelines in the myeloma (blood cancer) industry.



That makes Bristol-Myers an unusually strong firm to ride out a potential bear market. Drug demand is typically noncyclical, and BMY&rsquo;s recent decline now gives this conservative stock a great deal of upside. Shares trade at less than 7 times 2025 earnings.



<h2>2. Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/jnj1600c-300x169.jpg" alt="A red Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ) sign hangs inside in Moscow, Russia."><div>Source: Alexander Tolstykh / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/jnj-stock-quote/">JNJ</a>) joins BMY as a top conservative stock to buy this month. JNJ is a leading healthcare firm that dominates medical devices and several pharmaceutical markets. Its portfolio of devices includes innovative contact lenses and robotic surgical instruments, while its pharma segment hosts several blockbuster drugs.



In a writeup this week at InvestorPlace.com, Rich Duprey goes as far as to call it one of the <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/the-3-best-stocks-to-buy-to-survive-the-coming-sp-500-crash/?activate-overlay=true">3 Best Stocks to Buy to Survive the Coming S&amp;P 500 Crash</a>.




Johnson &amp; Johnson owns a portfolio of billion-dollar treatments including Stelara and Tremyfa for plaque psoriasis, Darzalex for cancer and Simponi for rheumatoid arthritis. Revenue is forecast to grow between 7% and 8% annually with 12% to 13% adjusted profits growth.



Not surprisingly, the pharma stock also has an extended dividend history. JNJ has paid a dividend to shareholders every year since 1944. It has increased the payout for 61 consecutive years and will probably announce yet another raise in the next few weeks.




That&rsquo;s because Johnson &amp; Johnson is a rare quality-growth play that can do well during good times while surviving the bad. Much like Bristol-Myers Squibb, JNJ saw operating income go up during the financial crisis. And its balance sheet is far healthier too, with only $6 billion of net debts. JNJ will spend less than 3% of its operating income on debt service this year.



Finally, a recent spinoff of its slower-growing consumer products division now puts JNJ on an unusually rapid growth path. Analysts expect free cash flow growth to accelerate from 6% last year to 13% this year and 16% the next.



Fortunately for investors looking to buy, markets have not yet realized this fact. Shares trade at less than 14 times forward earnings, or almost 15% below long-term averages.



<h2>3. Coca-Cola (KO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ko1600-300x169.jpg" alt="coca-cola bottles and cans. coke is a blue-chip stocks"><div>Source: Fotazdymak / Shutterstock.com</div></div>Shares of Coca-Cola (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ko-stock-quote/">KO</a>) stagnated last year over concerns that weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could cut into its business. Walmart (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wmt-stock-quote/">WMT</a>) U.S. CEO John Furner noted at the time that customers were already buying &ldquo;less units, slightly less calories,&rdquo; and that sent a chill through the snack food and beverage industry.



Coca-Cola has since traded at a significant discount to its long-term value, with the stock hovering at just 21 times forward earnings (compared to a five-year average of 23.4x).



That now makes it a particularly strong stock to ride any downturn. In an update at InvestorPlace.com this week, Rich Duprey also notes that cheap share prices now mean Coca-Cola sports a 3.3% dividend yield &ndash; well above its long-term average. (Share prices and dividends move in opposite directions, assuming no change in dividend payments). Warren Buffett&rsquo;s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/brk-a-stock-quote/">BRK-A</a>, NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/brk-b-stock-quote/">BRK-B</a>) alone is set to receive <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/warren-buffett-collects-2-1-billion-in-dividends-every-year-from-these-3-stocks">$775.6 million from this soda king</a>.



Meanwhile, the panic over weight-loss drugs has begun to subside. Wall Street analysts have now nudged Coke&rsquo;s 2025 earnings estimates back to where they started last year &ndash; a typically bullish sign. As Duprey notes:




Coke tends to be an all-weather stock. Cans of soda and other beverages are indulgences consumers will enjoy regardless of economic conditions. This is why it continues to thrive, and Buffett will likely never sell his holdings.




Though Coca-Cola has somewhat limited upside, its conservative nature and reasonable dividends makes it an excellent company to buy as market jitters continue to set in.



<h2>4 and 5: Valero (VLO) and Exxon Mobil (XOM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/gasoline_1600-300x169.png" alt="A photo of a row of gasoline pump handles at a pump with the sun shining on them. Gas prices dropping."><div>Source: ThePowerPlant/ShutterStock.com</div></div>The oil and gas industry is a surprisingly countercyclical one. Prices of the commodity surged in both the 2000 and 2008 stock market crashes, and fell in 2014 just as American companies were picking up steam. High energy prices can often act as a dampener on demand, so the average correlation between stocks and oil has traditionally been close to zero.



That&rsquo;s why Eric writes this week in Smart Money that <a href="https://investorplace.com/smartmoney/2024/04/old-but-mighty-dont-overlook-oil/">you don&rsquo;t want to overlook oil</a>.




The oil and gas sector has been enjoying a subdued &ldquo;stealth rally&rdquo; during the last few years. Since the end of 2021, the S&amp;P 500 Energy Sector sub-index has produced a total return of 92% &ndash; more than seven times the S&amp;P 500&rsquo;s return over the same time frame.




He sees even more gains ahead. In that same update, he picks out two companies, Valero Energy (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/vlo-stock-quote/">VLO</a>) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/xom-stock-quote/">XOM</a>), as &ldquo;textbook&rdquo; cases of deep-value plays.



<ul><li>Valero: The shares of this bellwether oil refiner have soared 36% year to date, reaching a new all-time high. But even at this record level, the stock is trading for just 7 times earnings, which is half its average valuation of the last 30 years.</li>



<li>Exxon: Using price-to-EBITDA ratios, the chart shows that Exxon&rsquo;s valuation has fallen to a record-low 70% discount to the valuation of the S&amp;P Information Technology Sector sub-index.</li>
</ul>Essentially, Valero and Exxon are priced as if oil will return to $65 per barrel. Many traders were badly burned in the 2022 bear market, and the backwardation in oil futures show that general bearishness persists today. Valero and Exxon&rsquo;s low price-earnings (P/E) ratios reflect the sentiment.



However, the oil market is far tighter than many realize. Eric notes that the International Energy Agency (IEA) has trimmed its 2024 supply forecast to 102.9 million barrels per day while raising its demand forecast to 103.0 barrels per day. If these numbers are correct, that would mark the first time since 2021 that the crude market will face an annual supply deficit. The situation could become &ldquo;extremely tight&rdquo; by the end of year if OPEC countries donn&rsquo;t bring back more supply, according to the head of commodities at hedge fund Citadel.



That means Valero&rsquo;s and Exxon&rsquo;s profits could remain elevated for longer than most realize. Both firms have large exposures to the upstream (drilling) side of the industry, and so high energy prices directly benefit these firms. Expect a U.S. market panic to pass these companies by.



<h2>The Uses of Technical Analysis</h2>



Last year at InvestorPlace.com, I wrote a <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/11/bollinger-bands-what-are-they-and-do-they-work/">series</a> <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/11/the-relative-strength-index-rsi-indicator-does-it-work/">of</a> <a href="https://investorplace.com/2023/12/the-macd-indicator-making-technical-analysis-work/">articles</a> that analyzed how well technical analysis does in the real world.



The power of these models turned out to be stunning, especially if paired with fundamental data. Investors leave &ldquo;clues&rdquo; that give away their sentiment at the time, and these emotions often become self-perpetuating. Rapid buying of risky stocks is a sign of greed, which can spark a market rally that generates even more greed, and so on. Cluster buying of conservative stocks signals a market turnaround, while selloffs can be a sign of fear.



After all, markets are run by people&hellip; and people are influenced by a combination of greed and fear.



Fortunately, Luke Lango has distilled this wisdom even further. In his latest presentation, he explains how he&rsquo;s used this insight to create a quantitative system that takes the technical stage analysis he&rsquo;s used successfully to pick stocks and modifies it to find cryptocurrencies on the verge of a breakout &ndash; tokens that could soar hundreds of percent in a matter of days, weeks, and months.



In fact, Luke tells me, he&rsquo;s precision-tuned that system to master gains in the crypto market &ndash; just in time to reap the rewards of Bitcoin&rsquo;s Fourth Halving, which, if everything went according to plan, should have occurred this weekend.



And on Tuesday, April 23, at 10 a.m. Eastern, he&rsquo;ll <a href="https://signup.investorplace.com/?cid=MKT798274&amp;eid=MKT801043&amp;step=start&amp;plcid=PLC207086&amp;SNAID=%%SNAID%%&amp;email=%%emailaddr%%&amp;encryptedSnaid=%%ENCRYPTEDSNAID%%&amp;emailjobid=%%jobid%%&amp;emailname=%%emailname_%%">be unveiling this tool at The Breakout Crypto Project</a>. Investors can leverage this system to potentially win big with cryptos as they enter the most exciting part of this Bitcoin halving-fueled boom cycle.



<a href="https://signup.investorplace.com/?cid=MKT798274&amp;eid=MKT801043&amp;step=start&amp;plcid=PLC207086&amp;SNAID=%%SNAID%%&amp;email=%%emailaddr%%&amp;encryptedSnaid=%%ENCRYPTEDSNAID%%&amp;emailjobid=%%jobid%%&amp;emailname=%%emailname_%%">Reserve your spot for that event here.</a>



On the date of publication, Thomas Yeung held no positions in stocks mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>Tom Yeung is a market analyst and portfolio manager of the Omnia Portfolio, the highest-tier subscription at InvestorPlace. He is the former editor of Tom Yeung&rsquo;s Profit &amp; Protection, a free e-letter about investing to profit in good times and protecting gains during the bad.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/5-crash-proof-stocks-to-buy-immediately/">5 Crash-Proof Stocks to Buy Immediately</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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While integrated hydrocarbon energy stalwart Shell stock (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/shel-stock-quote/">SHEL</a>) may seem an anachronistic enterprise, the current juncture bodes very well for SHEL. Undeniably, it&rsquo;s a cynical narrative. With geopolitical flashpoints sprouting in multiple regions, the implied risk of oil supply chain disruptions could lift Shell stock. However, the company also benefits from its pivot toward green energy solutions.



Perhaps the buy case for Shell stock was best demonstrated with last Friday&rsquo;s upside response. SHEL closed up nearly 1.5% to finish the April 19 session. That was inline with similar performances by integrated oil giants Chevron (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cvx-stock-quote/">CVX</a>) &ndash; up 1.54% &mdash; and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/xom-stock-quote/">XOM</a>), which gained about 1.2%.



Of course, what made the upside performance conspicuous was the broader equity indices struggles. Notably, the benchmark S&amp;P 500 fell below the 5,000 level, sparking fears of a <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/stock-market-crash-sp-500-falls-below-5000/">stock market crash</a>. However, what worries the rest of the market may end up cynically helping the hydrocarbon industry. As a result, I&rsquo;m bullish on Shell stock.



<h2>Geopolitics Should Move the Needle for Shell Stock</h2>



Although it&rsquo;s hardly a comfortable topic, it also can&rsquo;t be avoided: the current geopolitical landscape should be net bullish for Shell stock.



Obviously, the immediate spotlight focuses on tensions in the Middle East. On April 13, <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-april-13-2024/">Iran fired 300 missiles and drones</a> against Israel, in response to the bombing of Iran&rsquo;s embassy in Syria. Iranian government officials <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-bombs-iran-embassy-syria-iranian-commanders-among-dead-2024-04-01/">blamed Israel for the attack</a>. Subsequently, Israel launched its own strike as a response, which sets up a dangerous situation.



To be fair, the Israeli strike was narrow in scope. Further, the Associated Press reports that the two nations have <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-4-19-2024-a7ccbae2e2844bab089e8e4377a24ddb">played down the incident</a>. This suggests that they&rsquo;re seeking to cool tensions, which would be comforting news amid a troubling backdrop. Still, as The Wall Street Journal mentioned, a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-activates-air-defenses-and-cancels-flights-27b6d416">miscalculation</a> could send the tenuous situation spiraling out of control.



Naturally, Iran&rsquo;s geographic location to critical oil supply routes present broader disruption concerns. With inflation already a hot talking point, a major incident could send oil prices skyrocketing. Cynically, Shell stock would represent one of the few investments that may benefit.



However, it&rsquo;s not just the Middle East that&rsquo;s on the radar. In Europe, Russia&rsquo;s invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of abating. In an effort to slow the Russians, Ukrainian forces have begun <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/cpi-shocker-why-are-gas-prices-going-up-again/">striking oil refineries</a> and factories deep inside Russia.



From a military strategy standpoint, the move makes perfect sense. Warfare is about logistics and few things are more disruptive than hits to fueling infrastructure. However, it can&rsquo;t be avoided that this action &ndash; combined with a possible escalation in the Middle East &ndash; may lead to higher prices.



Again, such a backdrop has few winners outside of investments like Shell stock.



<h2>SHEL&rsquo;s Push for Alternatives a Timely One</h2>



Back during the initial invasion of Ukraine, the sudden disrupt of global energy supplies forced a sharp reality check: western nations can&rsquo;t trust authoritarian regimes such as Russia&rsquo;s. As a result, many countries <a href="https://www.power-technology.com/features/russian-war-one-year-renewables/#:~:text=The%20Russian%20invasion%20of%20Ukraine%20disrupted%20global%20energy%20supplies%2C%20resulting,including%20by%20turning%20to%20renewables.">prioritized ending their dependence</a> on Russian hydrocarbons. This directive included turning to renewables.



Part of the discussion to mitigate said dependency involves hydrogen. While <a href="https://www.acciona.com/green-hydrogen/#:~:text=However%2C%20hydrogen%20is%20not%20a,its%20extraction%20is%20also%20renewable.">not entirely a renewable energy source</a>, hydrogen provides an <a href="https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-is-hydrogen#:~:text=Hydrogen%20is%20a%20clean%20alternative,also%20known%20as%20natural%20gas.">alternative</a> to natural gas. Further, in 2022, Shell announced plans to build what it terms Europe&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/07/shell-to-build-europes-largest-renewable-hydrogen-plant.html">largest renewable hydrogen plant</a>. The effort aligns with the company&rsquo;s wider goal to become a net-zero emissions enterprise by 2050.



Finally, Shell recently announced that it&rsquo;s closing 1,000 gasoline stations to <a href="https://insideevs.com/news/713296/shell-closes-1000-gas-stations-to-focus-on-ev-charging/">focus on charging solutions for electric vehicles</a>. Granted, the EV space is currently suffering from a demand fallout. Still, over the long run, this move could position Shell stock favorably, assuming EVs become the future of powered mobility.



<h2>Compelling Valuation Picture</h2>



Lastly, Shell stock presents an excellent idea for investors looking for undervalued opportunities. At the moment, shares <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/stock/SHEL/summary?search=shel">trade at only 0.76X trailing-year revenue</a>. That&rsquo;s noticeably lower than the sector median 1.18X.



But that&rsquo;s not all. For the current fiscal year, analysts are <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SHEL/analysis">projecting revenue of $344.98 billion</a> on average. That&rsquo;s up 9% from the prior year&rsquo;s tally of $316.62 billion. Should disruptions boost the price of critical hydrocarbons, it&rsquo;s more than possible that the high-side estimate &ndash; calling for sales of $443.5 billion &ndash; would be in the cards.



At that level, Shell stock would trade for only 0.54X revenue. Therefore, an already attractive idea would look even more compelling.



<h2>The Takeaway: Geopolitics Gifts a Bullish Take for Shell Stock</h2>



With the current geopolitical framework carrying the serious potential to spike the cost of oil and other hydrocarbons, Shell stock seems a controversial but intriguing idea. Indeed, its solid performance last Friday amid broader red ink appeared to confirm the optimistic thesis. Plus, with SHEL undervalued relative to trailing and forward revenue, it&rsquo;s worth a look for concerned investors.



On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines</a>.
<div>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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	The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/fuel-your-profits-why-shell-stock-is-poised-to-soar-amid-global-turmoil/">Fuel Your Profits: Why Shell Stock Is Poised to Soar Amid Global Turmoil</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.

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