ExxonMobil (XOM) Stock Hits 52-Week High as Analysts Raise Targets

TLDR

• Iranian missile strikes hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, damaging LNG facilities where ExxonMobil holds joint venture stakes.
• ExxonMobil could lose around $5 billion in annual revenue, with repairs taking up to five years.
• Despite the damage, XOM stock has climbed nearly 6% since the conflict began as oil prices surged past $100 per barrel.
• Bernstein raised its price target on XOM to a Street-high of $195 with a Buy rating, citing strong crude prices and refining margins.
• Mizuho lifted its target to $162, while Barclays raised theirs to $163, though consensus remains a “Hold” with an average target of $148.89.

ExxonMobil has taken a direct hit from the escalating conflict in the Middle East — but Wall Street isn’t exactly panicking.

Exxon Mobil Corporation, XOM

Iranian missile strikes last week targeted Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, a critical hub for liquefied natural gas. ExxonMobil, which has operated in Qatar since 1955 and holds stakes in multiple LNG projects there, is facing the fallout. QatarEnergy estimates the damage could cost Exxon around $5 billion in annual revenue.

Repairs at the facility could take up to five years. That’s a long runway of disruption for one of Exxon’s key international operations. The company also evacuated non-essential staff from the Middle East earlier this month as a precaution.

Iranian strikes also hit Shell’s Pearl gas-to-liquids facility at Ras Laffan, damaging one production line expected to remain offline for at least a year. The Pearl plant is the largest gas-to-liquids facility in the world.

Oil Prices Surge, Lifting XOM Stock

The conflict has had an unexpected upside for big oil. Iran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz — which handles roughly one-fifth of global oil supply — sent crude prices sharply higher. West Texas Intermediate climbed to $100.29 per barrel, while Brent crude reached around $114.

XOM stock has risen nearly 6% since the conflict began. The stock opened at $159.75 on Monday, close to its 52-week high of $162.44. Since the start of the year, the stock has advanced roughly 32%.

ExxonMobil posted earnings of $1.71 per share in its most recent quarter, beating analyst estimates of $1.63. Revenue came in at $80.04 billion, topping forecasts of $77.98 billion.

Analysts Raise Targets, Divided on Rating

Bernstein analyst Bob Brackett raised his price target on XOM from $159 to $195 — the highest on Wall Street — while keeping a Buy rating. He pointed to elevated crude prices and wider refining margins as the key drivers. Brackett noted that conflicts like this often last longer than expected, and recommended increasing exposure to energy stocks.

Mizuho’s Nitin Kumar lifted his target from $140 to $162, raising his 2026 oil price forecast by 14% to $73.25. He kept a Hold rating and said it’s too early to tell if the conflict will permanently raise global prices.

Barclays also raised its target to $163, keeping an Overweight rating. Bank of America moved its target from $135 to $151 with a Neutral rating.

Across 19 analysts, the current consensus is a “Hold” with an average target of $148.89 — nine Buys, nine Holds, and one Sell.

Institutional investors own around 61.8% of XOM stock. Aventura Private Wealth recently opened a new position worth approximately $2.56 million.

Separately, ExxonMobil continues to grow in Guyana. Production from the Stabroek block is projected to reach 1.3 million barrels per day by 2027. In fiscal 2025, the company spent around $700 million with over 2,000 local suppliers in the country.

A VP at ExxonMobil sold 1,080 shares on March 16th at an average price of $155.50, totalling $167,940 — a 5.93% reduction in their personal holding.

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