New York, Jan 24, 2026, 10:18 (EST) — The market has closed.
Exxon Mobil shares ended Friday roughly 1% higher at $134.97. Late in the session, the company confirmed that its XTO unit has opened a virtual data room to gauge buyer interest in select Eagle Ford shale assets in South Texas. Sources say the sale process is being handled internally, without investment banks. The package covers about 168,000 net acres and more than a thousand wells, with a potential value topping $1 billion. Exxon said this aligns with its ongoing strategy to “continually evaluate and optimize” its portfolio, focusing on growth in the Permian Basin, Guyana, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). (Reuters)
The marketing push comes at a tricky time for energy investors. Oil prices have been volatile, reacting sharply to policy updates and supply hiccups. Traders are quick to hit anything suggesting rising costs or weaker returns.
As U.S. markets remain closed for the weekend, all eyes shift to Monday’s open and a packed schedule for crude and energy stocks. The key issue: is Exxon trimming its holdings cautiously, or is this a hint at bigger shifts in its U.S. shale strategy?
A “data room” is a secure online vault containing well files, production data, and contracts that bidders sift through before submitting offers. “Non-operated” interests refer to stakes where Exxon holds a share, but another company manages the wells.
Oil prices gave energy stocks a lift late Friday. Brent ended the day at $65.88 a barrel, up 2.8%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 2.9% to $61.07. The gains came as Washington ramped up pressure on Iran and Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oil supply remained offline; Chevron confirmed output there hadn’t resumed following a fire. This rebound reversed a roughly 2% drop from the previous day, when tariff and military threat talk cooled off. (Reuters)
Weather risk is factoring in. A winter storm named Fern has already caused crude and gas shut-ins across major U.S. basins. Energy Aspects analysts put total crude losses near 300,000 barrels per day. Distillate markets have tightened as cold weather drives up demand. “There is the potential for a surge in distillate demand,” said veteran oil analyst Tom Kloza. (Reuters)
Supply discipline is still in play. Baker Hughes reported the U.S. oil and gas rig count ticked up by one this week, reaching 544. That’s down 32 rigs compared to a year ago, showing producers aren’t scrambling to ramp up despite crude’s recent price jumps. (Reuters)
Yet the weekend story could shift quickly. Should the Eagle Ford sale attract limited interest or bids below the rumored $1 billion-plus price tag, the “portfolio cleanup” story would lose steam, leaving oil prices to do the heavy lifting for the stock.
At the start of the week, XOM is set to move in line with crude, as investors await more details on the timing and terms of the Eagle Ford package. Near-term market action will hinge on winter outages, concerns over Iran’s supply, and the restart of Kazakhstan’s Tengiz field.
Exxon plans to release its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings around 5:30 a.m. CT on Friday, Jan. 30. The results will be posted on its website and filed in an 8-K. (SEC)
