Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) ended Monday’s regular session in positive territory—and, importantly for traders watching extended hours, the stock stayed calm after the closing bell as energy markets reacted to fresh geopolitical headlines.
XOM finished Dec. 22, 2025 at $118.15, up 1.25% on the day, with the stock trading in a relatively tight $117.34–$118.46 range. [1]
In the after-hours session, Exxon shares were slightly higher, trading at $118.23 at 6:00 p.m. ET—a +0.07% move from the regular close—after touching $118.24 (high) and $118.00 (low) in extended trading. [2]
With Tuesday’s (Dec. 23) open approaching in a holiday-shortened week, here’s what today’s news flow and fresh analysis suggest investors should keep on their radar.
What happened to Exxon Mobil stock today (regular session)
Exxon’s Monday move was steady rather than explosive. The stock’s +1.25% rise came alongside gains in the broader market, with the S&P 500 up 0.64% and the Dow up 0.47% by the close. [3]
A few additional takeaways from today’s tape:
- Volume was light versus recent norms: about 11.6 million shares traded, which MarketWatch flagged as below the 50-day average. [4]
- Relative performance vs peers was mixed. MarketWatch noted Exxon gained, but underperformed Chevron (+1.39%) and ConocoPhillips (+1.49%) on the day. [5]
- The stock remains near its highs. Exxon ended the session about 2.2% below its 52-week high of $120.81 (per MarketWatch’s comparison note). [6]
That “near-the-highs” positioning matters because, in late December, thin liquidity can amplify reactions—especially when the key driver is crude oil sentiment, not a company-specific earnings catalyst.
After-hours check: calm trade, slight upside bias
After the bell, XOM didn’t show the kind of sharp repricing you’d normally associate with surprise corporate headlines.
As of 6:00 p.m. ET, Public.com data showed:
- After-hours price:$118.23
- Change vs close:+ $0.08 (+0.07%)
- After-hours range:$118.00–$118.24 [7]
In other words: no “new information shock” hit the tape late Monday. If XOM is going to gap meaningfully Tuesday morning, the more likely drivers are oil futures, overnight geopolitical updates, or macro data at 8:30 a.m. ET.
The biggest catalyst today: oil prices climbed on Venezuela-related enforcement news
Energy investors didn’t have to look far for a macro reason behind Monday’s bid in the sector.
Reuters reported oil prices rose Monday after the U.S. intercepted an oil tanker near Venezuela, reinforcing the market’s perception of tighter sanctions enforcement. Reuters cited Brent up to around $60.99 and WTI around $57.02 during the session. [8]
By late afternoon, MarketWatch’s front-month WTI futures snapshot showed crude higher in the high-$57 area (example: Feb 2026 WTI near $57.95 around 4:58 p.m. ET). [9]
This matters for Exxon because—even with a diversified downstream and chemicals footprint—upstream earnings power remains highly sensitive to crude and product pricing. When oil catches a geopolitical bid, integrated majors often follow.
Reuters also noted that energy was among the leading S&P 500 sectors in Monday’s session—consistent with the oil tape turning supportive. [10]
The “bigger picture” oil debate: geopolitics vs oversupply
One reason Exxon (and the entire energy complex) can feel “headline-driven” is that the market is juggling two competing narratives:
- Geopolitical disruption risk (Venezuela enforcement, Russia-Ukraine risks, shipping routes, sanctions)
- Structural oversupply concerns and a market that can absorb shocks more easily than it used to
Reuters published analysis today arguing that oil’s “geopolitical premium” has been muted in 2025 even amid major events—suggesting the market may be operating with a larger “energy abundance” cushion. [11]
Reuters also pointed to China’s role in influencing oil pricing via stockpiling and inventory behavior—potentially competing with OPEC+ as a price-setting force. [12]
For Exxon shareholders, that macro backdrop is crucial: it can help explain why XOM can trade resiliently even when oil isn’t surging, but also why sudden crude spikes may fade quickly if the market believes supply remains ample.
Today’s Exxon-specific headlines: Trinidad exploration timing and Guyana project supply chain
While oil prices set the tone, Exxon also appeared in notable company-focused items today—mainly tied to its long-cycle growth engines.
1) Trinidad and Tobago: seismic survey timeline pulled forward
A Zacks Equity Research report (published Monday) said Exxon plans to begin a seismic survey offshore Trinidad and Tobago as early as February 2026, after securing an exploration contract earlier in 2025 for a large offshore block. [13]
If confirmed through permitting and execution, this is the kind of early-stage activity that doesn’t move tomorrow’s open by itself—but it contributes to the longer-term narrative that Exxon continues to refresh its exploration pipeline alongside more mature cash generators.
2) Guyana: Hammerhead subsea system contract (via NOV) highlights development runway
Another Zacks item Monday focused on NOV Inc. winning work connected to Exxon’s Hammerhead development offshore Guyana, describing an actively heated flexible pipe system and framing Hammerhead as a future project expected to start production later in the decade. [14]
The Guyana angle remains strategically important for Exxon’s equity story because Stabroek is widely viewed as one of the world’s most advantaged new oil provinces. Separately, Chevron’s 2025 Hess acquisition established Chevron as the owner of Hess’s former stake in the Stabroek Block—an ownership shift that reshaped the partnership landscape last year. [15]
Forecasts and analyst expectations (today): what the Street is modeling for XOM
Monday’s post-close research coverage offered updated expectations and a reminder of what the next earnings checkpoint looks like.
Earnings timing
Multiple market listings point to Jan. 30, 2026 as Exxon’s next scheduled earnings date. [16]
Consensus figures highlighted today
Zacks’ post-close note summarized current consensus estimates as follows:
- Next quarter: earnings around $1.63 per share on revenue around $85.13B
- Full year: earnings around $6.89 per share on revenue around $333.31B [17]
Analyst rating / price target snapshot (as of today)
Public.com’s compiled analyst snapshot shows:
- Consensus rating:Buy
- Analyst count:17
- Consensus price target:$130.12 (as displayed) [18]
Treat any single “price target” as a directional sentiment gauge rather than a near-term predictor—especially in a week where macro headlines can overwhelm company-specific modeling.
What to watch before the market opens Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025
Here are the catalysts most likely to matter between tonight and Tuesday’s opening bell—especially for a stock like Exxon where macro inputs can quickly dominate.
1) Oil futures and Venezuela/Russia-Ukraine headline flow
Monday’s lift in crude was tied to enforcement actions near Venezuela and broader geopolitics. [19]
If that story escalates overnight—or if traders fade the move on oversupply expectations—XOM’s premarket tone can change quickly.
2) Key U.S. economic data at 8:30 a.m. ET
Macro prints matter for energy because they feed expectations for growth, rates, and ultimately demand.
BEA schedule updates indicate GDP (Q3) and Corporate Profits (preliminary) are scheduled for release Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 8:30 a.m. ET. [20]
Reuters also flagged attention on upcoming economic data (including GDP) during this holiday-shortened week. [21]
A “hotter” growth print can support cyclicals and energy on demand optimism, while a weaker print can pressure crude and energy equities—though the reaction often depends on what markets infer about interest rates.
3) Holiday trading mechanics: lighter liquidity and early close ahead
Tuesday is a normal session, but the calendar context still matters.
The NYSE holiday calendar notes an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. [22]
Reuters also reported exchanges would close early on Dec. 24 as previously planned. [23]
Lower liquidity around holiday weeks can mean:
- Wider bid/ask spreads, especially premarket/after-hours
- Bigger swings on smaller headlines
- Sector-level moves (like energy reacting to crude) becoming more pronounced
4) Energy inventory reporting may be disrupted
Normally, traders watch weekly inventory data as a near-term oil catalyst. But the schedule may not be standard this week.
EIA’s Weekly Petroleum Status Report page notes a schedule change: the report will be released Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, due to closure of the federal government. [24]
If official data is delayed, traders may lean more heavily on:
- private estimates
- company commentary
- shipping and sanctions headlines
That can make the oil tape—and energy stocks like Exxon—more sensitive to headlines than hard weekly statistics.
Bottom line for XOM heading into Tuesday’s open
Exxon Mobil stock ended Dec. 22 higher and held steady after hours, with only a modest uptick in extended trading. [25]
The main driver investors were reacting to today was a rebound in oil prices tied to Venezuela-related enforcement headlines, while company-specific items reinforced Exxon’s ongoing exploration and offshore development runway. [26]
For Tuesday morning, the most likely “movers” are overnight crude direction, 8:30 a.m. ET macro data (GDP/corporate profits), and the holiday-week liquidity setup—not a late-breaking Exxon corporate update. [27]
References
1. www.marketwatch.com, 2. public.com, 3. www.marketwatch.com, 4. www.marketwatch.com, 5. www.marketwatch.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. public.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.marketwatch.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. finviz.com, 14. finviz.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. public.com, 17. finviz.com, 18. public.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.bea.gov, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.nyse.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.eia.gov, 25. public.com, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. www.bea.gov
