Dec. 25, 2025 is Christmas Day in the U.S. — and that matters if you’re checking Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) “after the bell.” There was no closing bell today because U.S. equity markets are closed for the holiday. The last actionable “after-hours” read for XOM comes from Wednesday, Dec. 24, when markets ran a shortened session into the holiday. [1]
Below is what investors should know heading into Friday, Dec. 26, 2025, when Wall Street is scheduled to return to a full regular trading day (even though the federal government is closed that day under a White House order — exchanges said they are sticking with their trading calendar). [2]
Where Exxon Mobil stock last traded (and why there was no “after the bell” today)
- U.S. markets were closed on Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day). [3]
- Wednesday, Dec. 24 was an early close: NYSE markets closed at 1:00 p.m. ET, with NYSE late trading sessions closing at 5:00 p.m. ET. [4]
- XOM’s last regular-session close (Dec. 24): $119.22. [5]
- XOM “after hours” quote (last updated Dec. 24, 4:59 p.m. ET): $119.01 (delayed quote). [6]
So if you’re looking for “Exxon stock after the bell today (25.12.2025),” the most accurate framing is: the market is shut, and XOM’s last price discovery happened on Dec. 24 — in a thin, holiday-shortened session.
The market backdrop: Santa-rally conditions, thin liquidity, and an energy-sector crosscurrent
On Christmas Eve, U.S. stocks broadly pushed to record closes in a shortened session as the “Santa Claus rally” period began, supported by optimism around rate cuts in 2026 and resilient economic data. [7]
That broader risk-on tone can lift most boats, but energy equities still tend to trade first-and-foremost on crude and product pricing, plus any geopolitical developments that threaten supply. That’s especially relevant for Exxon Mobil because its earnings power is highly sensitive to the direction of oil and gas markets (even with an integrated model that includes refining and chemicals).
The most important Exxon-linked headline hitting the tape into the holiday: Russia and Sakhalin-1
The biggest company-specific catalyst investors were digesting over the holiday was a Reuters report that Russian President Vladimir Putin extended the deadline for the sale of ExxonMobil’s stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project until Jan. 1, 2027. [8]
Key details from that report that matter for sentiment:
- Reuters said the extension may help Exxon recover losses linked to its Russia exit after the start of the Ukraine war. [9]
- Reuters also noted Exxon took a $4.6 billion impairment charge on its 30% operator stake in April 2022. [10]
- Reuters reported Exxon and Russia’s Rosneft signed a non-binding initial agreement aimed at helping Exxon recoup losses, though meaningful progress may hinge on broader geopolitical conditions and sanctions. [11]
Why this matters for Dec. 26: it’s not an “earnings tomorrow” type catalyst, but it can shape how investors price legal/asset optionality and headline risk — especially in a tape where energy stocks can move on geopolitical nuance.
Oil prices are the near-term driver for XOM — and the holiday setup matters
Crude prices into the holiday were defined by two competing forces: a short-term rebound on geopolitical risk and positioning, versus a longer-term narrative that 2026 supply may outpace demand.
1) What oil did most recently (into the Dec. 24 settlement)
Reuters reported that on Dec. 24, Brent settled around $62/bbl and WTI around $58/bbl, with both contracts having gained about 6% since Dec. 16, when they fell toward near five-year lows. [12]
Reuters also emphasized expectations that crude was still tracking toward its steepest annual decline since 2020, with supply expected to outpace demand next year. [13]
2) The geopolitical “supply disruption” channel investors are watching
One of the most immediate supply-risk themes Reuters highlighted is U.S. action affecting Venezuelan oil shipping flows. Reuters reported slowing loading activity, ships waiting for instructions, and heightened uncertainty around tanker movements following U.S. seizures/interceptions. [14]
For Exxon investors, this matters less because “Exxon is exposed to Venezuela” and more because anything that tightens perceived global supply can put a floor under crude, which typically supports Big Oil cash flow expectations.
3) The 2026 “price-maker” debate: China vs. OPEC+
A Reuters commodities analysis argued that in 2025, China’s inventory behavior (buying into dips, easing off when prices rise) effectively challenged the idea that OPEC+ alone sets the market’s floor and ceiling. [15]
If that dynamic persists into 2026, it becomes relevant to Exxon’s outlook because it can mean:
- a more range-bound oil market, and
- a bigger role for “demand-side storage decisions” in where crude stabilizes. [16]
4) Today’s longer-range forecast to keep in mind: Goldman’s 2026 oil view
Reuters also reported that Goldman Sachs projected lower average oil prices in 2026 (Brent around $56, WTI around $52) unless disrupted by major supply shocks or deeper OPEC action. [17]
That kind of forecast is not a day-trading signal — but it’s a meaningful anchor for how some investors frame valuation and “how much upside is left” for integrated majors like Exxon if oil doesn’t re-accelerate.
Today’s XOM stock forecasts: where analysts cluster (and what that implies)
Even on a day when the U.S. market is closed, forecast dashboards and research summaries continued to circulate.
Street targets: generally bullish, but not unanimous
Consensus target ranges still imply single-digit to low-double-digit upside from the ~$119 area:
- StockAnalysis shows a consensus “Buy” with an average target around $130.74 (with a stated range of roughly $105 to $158). [18]
- MarketBeat shows a similar picture, with an average target around $129.45 and a high-end target in the $150s. [19]
How to interpret that heading into Dec. 26: targets in the low-$130s imply many analysts see Exxon as fairly valued to modestly undervalued at ~$119 if oil cooperates — but the wide range underscores that commodity assumptions are doing most of the work.
Earnings expectations: watch the “low-$1.60s EPS” zone for the December quarter
Estimate trackers show a relatively tight band for near-term earnings expectations:
- Zacks displayed a consensus estimate around $1.63 EPS for the quarter ending in December 2025. [20]
- MarketWatch’s analyst-estimates page showed a current-quarter estimate around $1.67 EPS. [21]
If oil moves sharply (up or down) as 2026 begins, these consensus numbers are often what gets revised first — and estimate revisions can matter for short-term stock performance.
Today’s published analyses on Exxon: the themes that stood out
Because it’s a holiday, much of today’s content is “analysis and positioning” rather than breaking corporate news.
1) “Resilient despite softer commodity pricing”
A Nasdaq-hosted piece (from Zacks) highlighted Exxon’s integrated model, low-cost production (including major basins), and the idea that the company can remain comparatively resilient even if commodity pricing is not booming. It also noted Exxon’s EV/EBITDA multiple relative to industry comparisons and described estimate stability over the prior week. [22]
2) Valuation debate continues
AAII published a valuation-focused write-up dated Dec. 25 that frames the “is it overvalued?” question through its scoring framework. Whether you agree with the conclusion or not, it reflects a very real split in the market right now: Exxon as a durable cash-return story versus Exxon as a stock capped by a softer oil-price forward curve. [23]
3) Institutional-position updates (incremental, but part of the day’s flow)
MarketBeat posted multiple items dated Dec. 25 about institutions increasing holdings (for example, Farther Finance Advisors and Trust Co. of Vermont). These are backward-looking filings, not “fresh buys today,” but they contribute to the narrative that Exxon remains a core portfolio holding for many managers. [24]
One underappreciated “tomorrow” detail: EDGAR is closed, so don’t expect new SEC filings before the open
A practical point for investors looking for late-breaking corporate disclosures:
The SEC announced that EDGAR will be closed Dec. 24–Dec. 26, 2025, and filings due on those dates will be considered timely if filed on Dec. 29, 2025. [25]
Implication for XOM into the Dec. 26 open: you’re less likely to wake up to a surprise SEC filing overnight. Company updates can still occur via press releases or media reports — but the normal EDGAR flow is paused.
What to watch before the U.S. market opens on Friday, Dec. 26
Here’s a focused checklist for Exxon Mobil stockholders and XOM traders going into tomorrow’s session:
1) Overnight crude direction (WTI/Brent) and any Venezuela/Russia supply headlines
Oil has been reacting to:
- disruptions and uncertainty around Venezuelan exports, and
- broader geopolitical risks. [26]
If crude gaps higher into Friday, energy equities often catch a bid early — especially large, liquid names like Exxon.
2) “Thin liquidity” effect after the holiday
The last session (Dec. 24) was already a thin, shortened trading day, and the day after Christmas can still see reduced participation. [27]
Lower liquidity can amplify moves (in either direction) on relatively modest news flow.
3) Key price levels from the most recent tape
From the last session data:
- XOM closed near $119.22. [28]
- Recent trading showed resistance/interest near $120 (the stock printed about $120.05 intraday on Dec. 24). [29]
Round numbers like $120 can matter because they’re psychologically important and often show up in options positioning.
4) Weekly options expiration on Dec. 26
XOM has options expiring Dec. 26, 2025, which can sometimes intensify price “pinning” effects near popular strikes late in the day (especially if the stock is hovering near a round-number level). [30]
5) Don’t confuse federal-closure headlines with market closure
Even though the White House order closed federal government offices on Dec. 26, exchanges have said they are operating on a normal full trading day. [31]
Longer-term context still shaping the Exxon narrative into 2026
While tomorrow’s open will likely be driven by oil and market sentiment, Exxon’s strategic messaging this month remains a major part of the medium-term thesis.
- Exxon released an updated plan targeting higher earnings and cash-flow growth through 2030, leaning heavily on advantaged assets and disciplined capital spending (per Reuters and Exxon’s own communications). [32]
- Exxon also highlighted shareholder return priorities, including dividend strength (the company declared a $1.03/share quarterly dividend for 4Q25 in its Q3 results materials). [33]
That’s why many investors continue to treat XOM as both:
- a macro oil lever, and
- a cash-return compounder — particularly if oil stays range-bound rather than collapsing.
Bottom line for Exxon Mobil stock into the Dec. 26 open
Because the U.S. market is closed today (Dec. 25), the “after the bell” picture for Exxon Mobil (XOM) is really a read-through from Dec. 24’s early close and its shortened after-hours session. [34]
Going into Friday:
- The most material Exxon-specific headline in the immediate window is Russia extending the Sakhalin-1 stake-sale deadline to Jan. 1, 2027. [35]
- The main market driver remains oil prices, which have rebounded from mid-December lows amid geopolitics, even as 2026 oversupply concerns linger in forecasts. [36]
- Analyst targets cluster in the high-$120s/low-$130s, implying modest upside from current levels — but outcomes will depend heavily on crude’s 2026 path. [37]
- EDGAR is closed through Dec. 26, reducing the odds of a surprise SEC filing before the open. [38]
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
References
1. www.nasdaqtrader.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. www.nasdaqtrader.com, 4. www.nyse.com, 5. www.marketwatch.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.reuters.com, 16. www.reuters.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. stockanalysis.com, 19. www.marketbeat.com, 20. www.zacks.com, 21. www.marketwatch.com, 22. www.nasdaq.com, 23. www.aaii.com, 24. www.marketbeat.com, 25. www.sec.gov, 26. www.reuters.com, 27. www.reuters.com, 28. www.marketwatch.com, 29. www.marketwatch.com, 30. www.marketbeat.com, 31. www.reuters.com, 32. www.reuters.com, 33. corporate.exxonmobil.com, 34. www.nasdaqtrader.com, 35. www.reuters.com, 36. www.reuters.com, 37. stockanalysis.com, 38. www.sec.gov
