Why One Key Figure Keeps Me From Buying ExxonMobil Stock Near Record Highs

Yahoo Finance ·

ExxonMobil XOM announced robust third-quarter earnings on October 30, posting a net profit of $15.4 billion, which is more than double the previous year's figure. Adjusted earnings hit $17.5 billion, or $4.23 per share, accompanied by $19.1 billion in free cash flow. Despite these stellar figures and shares hovering near record highs around $185, a specific metric of $9.1 billion raises red flags regarding earnings stability. This figure represents the adjusted profit generated by its refining and fuels division, which surged from $4.1 billion in the second quarter due to favorable refining margins. Conversely, upstream earnings from oil and natural gas production dropped from $9.2 billion in Q2 to $7.3 billion in Q3. This stark contrast highlights how heavily recent momentum relied on volatile refining operations rather than core production profitability, leaving investors vulnerable to sudden energy market shifts.

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ExxonMobil is trading near record highs, reporting a third-quarter adjusted net income of $17.5 billion and free cash flow of $19.1 billion. However, the fact that the profit surge was primarily driven by a $9.1 billion profit in the energy products segment due to improved refining margins suggests volatility risks. With upstream earnings declining, high reliance on the volatile refining sector increases the possibility of future earnings fluctuations.

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ExxonMobil's third-quarter results were strong, with energy products segment profit reaching $9.1 billion due to rising refining margins, but earnings in the core crude production segment fell from $9.2 billion in the second quarter to $7.3 billion in the third quarter. This demonstrates a structural vulnerability where a drop in refining margins could lead to a sharp decline in overall performance.

In the bullish scenario, high profitability could be sustained through maintained crude demand and favorable refining margins, driving continued stock price gains. Conversely, in the bearish scenario, falling refining margins combined with upstream weakness pose a risk of plunging earnings. Key indicators to watch are refining margin trends and global crude oil and fuel demand.

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