Virtu Financial LLC Invests in Exxon Mobil Co.

Virtu Financial LLC has recently announced a new investment in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM) as revealed in their latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. During the fourth quarter, Virtu acquired 22,464 shares of the prominent oil and gas company's stock, which holds a value of approximately $2,416,000.

In addition to Virtu Financial, other institutional investors and hedge funds have also adjusted their positions in Exxon Mobil recently. For example, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil shares by 14.4% during the fourth quarter. Following this acquisition, Bank of New York Mellon now holds 43,983,110 shares of the company, valued at around $4.73 billion, after adding 5,538,694 shares in the last quarter.

Another notable investor, Pacer Advisors Inc., expanded its stake in Exxon Mobil by a staggering 1,524.1% in the fourth quarter, now owning 5,445,922 shares worth $585.82 million after purchasing an additional 5,110,603 shares. Similarly, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its position by 16.3% in the previous third quarter, bringing their total to 31,522,556 shares valued at $3.94 billion after acquiring 4,415,012 shares.

Proficio Capital Partners LLC raised their stake massively by 13,899.5% in the fourth quarter, now owning 1,888,812 shares worth about $1.96 million after purchasing an additional 1,875,320 shares. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC also acquired additional shares in the fourth quarter, increasing their total holdings to 1,792,811 shares valued at $192.85 million, following the purchase of an extra 1,776,848 shares.

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

Exxon Mobil's stock (NYSE:XOM) opened at $115.30 on Friday. Within the past year, the stock has seen a low of $103.67 and a high of $126.34. Currently, the market capitalization stands at $500.29 billion, with a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.71 and a PEG ratio of 3.02, along with a beta of 0.83. The fifty-day moving average is $110.09, while the two-hundred-day moving average is $113.57. The company holds a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.31, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14.

Recent Earnings and Dividend Announcements

Exxon Mobil released its latest quarterly earnings data on January 31st, where it reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.67 for the quarter, falling short of the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.10. Exxon Mobil's return on equity was recorded at 12.92%, with a net margin of 9.63%. In comparison to the same period last year, where the EPS was $2.48, the last few quarters have presented a decline. Analysts project that Exxon Mobil will post a total of 7.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Moreover, the company has announced a quarterly dividend. Shareholders of record on February 12th received a dividend payment of $0.99, translating to an annualized dividend of $3.96 and a yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date was set on February 12th, and currently, the dividend payout ratio is at 50.51%.

Analyst Ratings and Insider Transactions

Various brokerages have weighed in on Exxon Mobil with differing outlooks. For instance, UBS Group adjusted their price target from $149.00 to $147.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating as of December 12th. Likewise, Piper Sandler scaled down their target from $138.00 to $127.00 and kept an "overweight" rating. A report from JPMorgan Chase & Co on December 16th also pointed to a revised price target reduction from $130.00 to $125.00 while setting an "overweight" rating. BMO Capital Markets and Truist Financial also provided adjustments to their price targets and ratings, with several analysts aligning their outlooks toward a moderate buy with an average target price of $129.15.

On a different note, insider selling was reported by VP Darrin L. Talley, who sold 2,100 shares on February 4th at an average price of $110.00. Following this transaction, his direct ownership in the company stands at 18,087 shares valued at about $1.99 million, reflecting a decrease of 10.40% in his position. Currently, company insiders own about 0.03% of the stock.

Exxon Mobil Company Overview

Exxon Mobil Corporation is engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. Its operations span domestically and internationally across various segments, including Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products. The Upstream segment is dedicated to the exploration for and production of crude oil and natural gas.

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