https://seekingalpha.com/news/3784373-exxon-signals-strong-q4-results-credit-suisse-raises-earnings-outlook
Exxon Mobil (XOM +0.8%) edges higher in early trading after a new 8-K filing suggests a likely Q4 earnings beat, largely due to stronger oil and gas prices, when it reports on February 1.
The 8-K filing, which Credit Suisse analyst Manav Gupta calls "the barometer that measures the health of the energy sector," indicates higher oil and gas prices could have increased the company's Q4 GAAP earnings by as much as $1.9B compared with Q3.
Gupta calculates Exxon's indicators point to Q4 net income of ~$8.25B, or $1.93/share, well above Wall Street's $1.72 consensus and his own previous estimate of $1.64.
The analyst now forecasts Exxon's Q4 upstream earnings will rise by a third to $5.98B from $3.95B in Q3, downstream earnings will climb to $1.44B vs. $1.25B in Q3, and chemicals earnings will slip to $1.41B from $2.03B.
Based on the filing, Gupta also expects materially higher Q/Q upstream earnings from the other oil companies in his coverage: Chevron (CVX +0.1%), Suncor Energy (SU +1.2%), Cenovus Energy (CVE +0.7%), Imperial Oil (IMO +1.3%) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ +0.5%).
Exxon is "poised to generate strong free cash flow for years to come" and its valuation is very attractive, Leo Nelissen writes in a bullish new analysis posted on Seeking Alpha.