ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) shares are trading higher by almost 2% on Monday as traders react to Venezuela investment headlines, even with S&P 500 futures down 0.4%.

• ExxonMobil Holdings stock is gaining positive traction. Why is XOM stock advancing?

Trump Allows Investment in Venezuela

President Donald Trump recently disclosed an agreement allowing U.S. companies to participate in developing Venezuela’s oil resources.

U.S. companies are expected to invest more than $100 billion in Venezuela.

GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said Trump’s Venezuela oil deal could help offset supply shortages linked to the Iran war, but cautioned that bringing Venezuelan oil to market would require multi-billion-dollar investments and would not have an immediate impact on gas prices.

Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez Unveils 25-Year US Oil Deal Targeting

Yesterday, Rodriguez said a new 25-year energy agreement with the U.S. aims to raise crude production to 1.5 million barrels per day while preserving national sovereignty over resources.

The deal covers 17 strategic oilfields and eight greenfield blocks, compared with current output of about 1.25 million bpd.

Rodriguez estimates the agreement could generate about $209 billion for Venezuela over 25 years, based on a $65-per-barrel oil price, with roughly $19 per barrel going directly to the state. Despite having the world’s largest proven oil reserves, Venezuela’s output remains constrained by years of underinvestment, mismanagement and sanctions.

Exxon Earlier Labeled Venezuela ‘Uninvestable’ Without Major Reforms

In January 2026, Exxon CEO Darren Woods referred to Venezuela as currently "uninvestable," citing past instances of the company’s assets being confiscated by the Venezuelan government, reports Bloomberg.

Later that month, a source familiar with Exxon’s strategy told Reuters that the company is prepared to send a technical team to Venezuela within weeks to evaluate oil infrastructure and other assets.

XOM Earnings Preview and Analyst Price Targets

Looking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the Oct. 30 (estimated) earnings report.

  • EPS Estimate: $3.60 (Up from $1.88 year-over-year)
  • Revenue Estimate: $99.80 billion (Up from $85.29 billion YoY)
  • Valuation: P/E of 20.2x (Suggests fair valuation relative to peers)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average consensus price forecast of $157. Recent analyst moves include:

  • Morgan Stanley: Overweight (Raises target to $177 on Aug. 19)
  • Barclays: Overweight (Lowers target to $177 on Aug. 17)
  • TD Cowen: Buy (Raises target to $168 on Aug. 7)

XOM Stock Price Activity: ExxonMobil Holdings shares were up 1.85% at $159.61 at the time of publication on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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