Oil & Exxon: Repeat of ’22?

Right. Oil. It’s going up again. Apparently, anything vaguely unsettling happening in the Middle East translates directly into a spike at the pump. Who knew? It’s so predictable, really. One starts to suspect it’s not just geopolitics, but some sort of elaborate performance art designed to stress-test my portfolio. And, of course, benefit the oil companies. Because, naturally.

It’s over $100 a barrel again, which feels… familiar. Like running into an ex you knew was bad news. It dipped, thankfully, back to around $86 on Tuesday, but the underlying anxiety remains. It’s just… looming. Another potential conflict, another potential price hike. Honestly, it’s exhausting. A year ago, it was under $70. Progress? I’m not sure. It feels more like a cyclical descent into mild panic.

And who’s benefiting? Well, you can probably guess. ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil (XOM +2.27%). They had a good 2022. An 80% jump. Eighty percent! It feels… vulgar, doesn’t it? Like winning the lottery while everyone else is struggling to fill their tanks. The question, naturally, is whether it’s about to happen again. Is this another opportunity? Or am I just being lured into a classic pump-and-dump scheme?

Will ExxonMobil Stock Have a Strong Year in 2026?

Unsurprisingly, ExxonMobil is already up. As of Tuesday, around 26%. While the S&P 500 is… not. Down 1%. It’s like watching a particularly smug athlete win every race. It’s… irritating. But also, I have to admit, slightly impressive. It’s just… the sheer inevitability of it all. It’s all so… corporate.

If oil stays high, they’ll probably do well. Obvious, really. They’re good at what they do. And investors seem to like the dividend. It’s a safe haven, apparently, in times of inflation. Which is comforting, I suppose. They’ve been raising the payout for decades, and it’s currently yielding 2.8%, which is more than double the S&P 500 average. It’s like a financial security blanket. A slightly oily, corporate security blanket.

And even with the price increase, it’s not too expensive, apparently. Price-to-earnings multiple of 23. Which sounds… reasonable. If you squint. And if oil stays high, their earnings will just get even stronger. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy, isn’t it? A beautifully cynical, self-fulfilling prophecy.

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ExxonMobil is a Good Stock to Buy, Regardless of Where Oil Prices Are Headed

Buying a stock based on oil prices is risky, obviously. It’s volatile. If the situation in Iran resolves itself quickly, prices could fall. And then I’d be left holding the bag. Again. It’s happened before. In the last three years, it’s actually underperformed the market. Which is… humbling. It’s a reminder that even the seemingly invincible can stumble.

However, it does offer some diversification. And a reliable dividend. Which is nice. It’s a small comfort in a world of economic uncertainty. So, I think it’s still worth considering. Even if oil prices do come down. As long as you’re thinking long-term. And not trying to get rich quick. Which, let’s be honest, is a constant temptation.

Units of Cryptocurrency Lost: 12. Hours Spent Watching Charts: 9. Number of Panicked Texts to Friends: 24. Will become disciplined long-term investor: Unlikely.

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2026-03-11 22:02