New York, Feb 8, 2026, 10:21 EST — Market has closed.
- Exxon Mobil ended the session up 2.0% at $149.05, just shy of its peak for the day.
- Oil prices finished up on Friday, with the market reacting to renewed U.S.-Iran tensions following mediated discussions through Oman.
- Investors are eyeing Monday’s open, with Exxon’s shareholder record date falling on Feb. 12 for its March dividend.
Exxon Mobil (XOM) finished Friday’s session up 2.0% at $149.05, having hit an intraday peak of $149.55. U.S. stock markets remain closed on Sunday.
That puts the U.S. oil major right back in the spotlight heading into the next session, with crude prices jittery on geopolitical headlines—always a wild card for energy sector cash-flow bets. Traders are set to see if Friday’s bid holds up once markets are back online.
Risk appetite took the lead by Friday’s close. The Dow closed above 50,000 for the first time ever, and S&P 500’s energy sector index notched a fresh record. As for the broader benchmark, the S&P 500 added almost 2%, according to Reuters. 1
Oil found some footing. Brent—still the global benchmark—closed at $68.05 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) finished at $63.55. Investors watched the twists in U.S.-Iran negotiations, Oman stepping in as mediator. “We keep going back and forth” on the situation, said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital. 2
When oil and gas prices climb, Exxon’s upstream segment tends to ride that wave. But higher input costs and changing margins can squeeze its refining and chemicals arms. The stock, for its part, frequently moves in line with oil prices, regardless of how much actual company news is out there.
Chevron added roughly 0.8%, closing at $180.86. ConocoPhillips tacked on about 2.5% to end at $107.62. Other peers also logged gains Friday.
Energy traders are watching for weekend updates from the talks, with a sharp eye on how oil futures kick off trading again—market nerves remain high over risks tied to major shipping lanes in the Middle East.
If the diplomatic tone stays cool, that geopolitical edge baked into crude prices might come off, pulling energy stocks back from recent highs. Oil, already vulnerable to selloffs on oversupply fears, can run into further selling once the threat level recedes from the headlines.
Exxon holders are running up against the clock. The company has declared its Q1 dividend—$1.03 a share—set for payment on March 10, 2026, to those recorded as shareholders by the end of business on Feb. 12, 2026. An updated Company Overview and Investment Case presentation is slated to drop Feb. 20. 3
Monday’s open will test if Exxon keeps its footing over $149, now that oil’s trading resumes. For investors, the next date to watch is Feb. 12—that’s the cutoff for shareholders to secure the March 10 dividend.
