Zacks Research Predicts Soft Earnings for Imperial Oil in Q2

On December 16, stock analysts from Zacks Research updated their earnings projections for Imperial Oil Limited (NYSEAMERICAN:IMO) for Q2 2026. According to the report, Zacks Research has lowered its earnings per share (EPS) estimate from $1.52 to $1.46 for the quarter. This more cautious outlook comes amid a consensus full-year EPS estimate of $6.22 for the company.

Imperial Oil has recently been featured in various research reports. Notably, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded the stock from a 'neutral' to an 'underweight' rating on December 19. StockNews.com also reduced its rating from a 'buy' to a 'hold' status on August 28. Furthermore, Scotiabank maintained a 'sector perform' rating while setting a price target of $110.00 for Imperial Oil on September 25. Currently, one analyst has rated the stock as a 'sell', three have suggested holding, and one has given it a 'buy' rating, resulting in a consensus rating of 'Hold' and an average price target of $109.00, according to MarketBeat.

Price Performance of Imperial Oil

As of December 20, Imperial Oil shares opened at $62.51. The company's stock experienced a year-low price of $54.58, contrasting with a high of $80.17 over the past year. Its market capitalization stands at $32.04 billion with a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.32 and a beta of 1.42. Additionally, Imperial Oil's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.17, with a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.44.

Dividend Announcement by Imperial Oil

Recently, Imperial Oil also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.4304 per share, scheduled to be paid on January 1. Shareholders recorded on December 3 will receive this dividend, which translates to an annual yield of 2.75% and a payout ratio of 26.38%.

Institutional Investment Trends

Several large investors have recently altered their ownership stakes in Imperial Oil. Notably, FMR LLC expanded its holdings by 3.7%, bringing its total shares to approximately 36.93 million, valued at around $2.60 billion. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company has also increased its stake by 8.4%, owning 4.42 million shares worth around $311.18 million. Similarly, TD Asset Management raised their shareholding by 12.2%, while Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management increased its position by 9.7%. Notably, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp made a significant increase of 10,896.4% in its shares, owning 867,174 shares worth about $59.14 million. Institutional investors currently hold about 20.74% of the stock.

Company Overview: Imperial Oil

Imperial Oil Limited is engaged in the exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas primarily in Canada. The company operates through three major segments: Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical. Its Upstream segment focuses on crude oil and natural gas exploration and production, while the Downstream segment is responsible for the transportation, refining, blending, and marketing of refined products.

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