43 Years of Dividend Growth Keeps XOM Bulls Holding Through the Noise

"Full-year 2025 net income fell 14% to $28.8 billion, even as the company posted record production of 4.7 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, the highest annual output in over 40 years. More volume, less profit. That gap is almost entirely explained by WTI crude, which averaged around $90 as of March 10, 2026."

"Full-year free cash flow fell nearly 15% year-over-year to $26.1 billion, even as capital expenditures climbed 19% to $29 billion, compressing shareholder returns. The Chemical Products segment posted a $281 million loss in Q4 on weak global margins, offsetting upstream strength."

"The proprietary sentiment score hit 72 on February 20, then pulled back to 46 as of March 10, sliding from bullish to neutral territory. The core debate: does ExxonMobil have the structural depth to keep compounding, or is it simply riding an oil price bounce?"

ExxonMobil shares trade near $150 with cooling retail sentiment after a February peak. Full-year 2025 net income fell 14% to $28.8 billion despite record production of 4.7 million barrels per day, the highest in over 40 years. The profit decline stems from WTI crude averaging around $90. Free cash flow dropped 15% year-over-year to $26.1 billion while capital expenditures climbed 19% to $29 billion, compressing shareholder returns. The Chemical Products segment posted a $281 million Q4 loss. Reddit sentiment shifted from bullish (72 score in late February) to neutral (46 by March 10), with retail investors debating whether the company has structural growth potential or merely benefits from temporary oil price movements.

Read at 24/7 Wall St.