ExxonMobil Stock: Is XOM Underperforming the Energy Sector?

ExxonMobil Stock: Is XOM Underperforming the Energy Sector?

Sat, August 29, 2026 at 8:38 PM GMT+3 3 min read

• XOM +0.17%
• XLE +0.63%

With a market cap of $649.6 billion, ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation (XOM) is one of the world's largest integrated energy companies, with leading upstream oil and gas assets, the largest global refining operations, and substantial chemical businesses. Known for disciplined capital allocation and industry-leading returns, the company maintains a strong dividend record and credit profile.

Companies valued at $200 billion or more are generally considered "mega-cap" stocks, and Exxon Mobil fits this criterion perfectly. Its operations span traditional energy, petrochemicals, and emerging lower-emission opportunities, positioning it as a bellwether in the sector.

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Shares of the Spring, Texas-based company have fallen 11.2% from its 52-week high of $176.41. Over the past three months, XOM stock has risen 6.6%, lagging behind the broader State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF's (XLE) return of 10.1% during the same period.

In the longer term, XOM stock has gained 30.2% on a YTD basis, underperforming the XLE's 40.2% increase. Moreover, shares of the oil and natural gas company have surged 38.3% over the past 52 weeks, compared to XLE's 39.4% gain over the same time frame.

The stock has been trading above its 200-day moving average since late November last year.

Shares of XOM fell nearly 1% on Jul. 31 after Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $3.52 missed the consensus. Both upstream earnings of $9.2 billion and refining profit of $4.1 billion came in below analyst expectations, while total production fell to 4.5 million boepd, with about 450,000 boepd offline in Qatar. Investor sentiment was further pressured by Middle East disruptions and Strait of Hormuz risks, with Exxon warning that a full-quarter closure could reduce Middle East production by about 750,000 boepd.

In comparison with its rival, Chevron Corporation (CVX) stock has slightly outpaced XOM stock on a YTD basis, with CVX stock up 32.5%. However, CVX stock has gained 26.7% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind XOM stock.

Despite the stock's underperformance relative to the sector over the past year, analysts are moderately optimistic about its prospects. XOM stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the 26 analysts covering it, and the mean price target of $167.12 is a premium of 6.6% to current levels.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com