Analyst Ratings February 4, 2026

BMO Lifts ExxonMobil Target to $155 After CFO Meeting, Keeps Market Perform

Analyst tweaks 2026 outlook and cites portfolio strengths as Exxon posts solid quarterly results and mixed analyst reactions emerge

By Jordan Park XOM
BMO Lifts ExxonMobil Target to $155 After CFO Meeting, Keeps Market Perform
XOM

BMO Capital raised its price target on ExxonMobil to $155.00 from $125.00 while retaining a Market Perform rating after reviewing the company's quarterly results and meeting with incoming CFO Neil Hansen. The firm slightly raised its 2026 and longer-term estimates, citing ExxonMobil's portfolio and execution. The move comes amid other broker revisions and a range of analyst opinions on valuation and prospects.

Key Points

  • BMO Capital raised its ExxonMobil price target to $155.00 from $125.00 but kept a Market Perform rating; the new target is slightly above the stock's trading price of $144.84 and near its 52-week high of $145.01 - impacts the energy and equity markets.
  • BMO cited slightly improved 2026 and longer-term estimates after meeting with incoming CFO Neil Hansen and reviewing the company’s quarter, while emphasizing ExxonMobil's "differentiated portfolio and leading execution capabilities" - affects valuation assessments in energy and industrial sectors.
  • Other broker moves were mixed: UBS raised its target to $171.00 (Buy), JPMorgan to $140.00, while BNP Paribas Exane downgraded to Underperform with a $125.00 target and Freedom Capital Markets kept a Sell at $123.00 - reflects divergent analyst views across investment banking and equity research.

BMO Capital has increased its price target on ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) to $155.00 from $125.00, while keeping a Market Perform rating on the stock. That new target sits just above ExxonMobil’s then-current trading level of $144.84 and close to the 52-week high of $145.01.

The decision to raise the target followed the company’s most recent quarterly earnings release and a meeting between BMO analysts and ExxonMobil’s incoming chief financial officer, Neil Hansen. BMO pointed to modestly improved estimates for 2026 and subsequent years as a primary driver of the $30 per share uplift in the price target.

Company financials cited in the discussion show $6.70 in diluted earnings per share for the trailing twelve months. Analyst consensus cited in the same data set projects $7.45 in EPS for fiscal 2026.

In his note, BMO analyst Phillip Jungwirth characterized the fourth-quarter update as "neutral from an expectations perspective," while also observing that the company had "once again delivered strong results, led by Energy Products." Those phrases underscore a view that operational performance remained robust, even if headline guidance or surprises were limited versus market expectations.

BMO highlighted ExxonMobil’s "differentiated portfolio and leading execution capabilities" as supportive of the company’s outlook to 2030. Management views that positioning as enabling competition with industrial companies and as justification for a higher valuation, according to the BMO commentary referenced by the firm.

Key valuation metrics included with the analysis show a market capitalization of $604.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.65, and a dividend yield of 2.87%. Those figures were drawn from the same comprehensive research resources cited alongside the broker commentary.

ExxonMobil’s fourth-quarter 2025 results beat estimates, with reported EPS of $1.71 versus a forecast of $1.68, and revenue of $82.31 billion compared with projected revenue of $81.04 billion. Those beats in near-term results prompted other broker moves: UBS raised its price target from $145.00 to $171.00 while keeping a Buy rating, and JPMorgan moved its target to $140.00, noting that EPS exceeded its estimate by 7% and pointing to strong operational performance.

Not all broker responses were positive. BNP Paribas Exane downgraded the company from Neutral to Underperform and set a $125.00 price target, citing valuation concerns after a considerable run in the stock. Freedom Capital Markets kept a Sell rating with a $123.00 target, even as it acknowledged production growth in Guyana and the U.S. Permian Basin.

The range of analyst actions illustrates divergent perspectives among equity research desks: some firms are citing operational momentum and adjusting targets higher, while others are focused on valuation metrics and taking a more cautious stance. For investors and market participants, that split signals differing expectations on how ExxonMobil’s execution and portfolio translate into long-term shareholder value.


Contextual note: The price-target change reported here reflects the BMO note and linked company results; estimates and opinions referenced are those provided by the various brokerages noted.

Risks

  • Valuation risk: Several analysts pointed to valuation concerns after the stock's rise, leading to downgrades or lower targets - this affects equity investors and valuation-sensitive strategies in the energy sector.
  • Analyst disagreement: The range of broker actions—from higher targets to downgrades and Sell ratings—creates uncertainty for investors assessing consensus expectations and could influence trading volatility in energy and broader market sectors.
  • Reliance on operational execution: BMO and others referenced ExxonMobil’s execution capabilities as a reason for a higher target; any deterioration in execution or delays to planned projects could alter earnings trajectories and investor sentiment in the oil and industrial sectors.

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