Exxon Mobil Beats Analyst Estimates on EPS

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM  ) reported earnings on Feb. 1. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Exxon Mobil missed estimates on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue shrank and GAAP earnings per share grew.

Gross margins contracted, operating margins expanded, net margins grew.

Revenue details
Exxon Mobil logged revenue of $115.17 billion. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ expected sales of $122.82 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 0.0% higher than the prior-year quarter's $107.42 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
EPS came in at $2.20. The 18 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ averaged $1.99 per share. GAAP EPS of $2.20 for Q4 were 12% higher than the prior-year quarter's $1.97 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 25.3%, 510 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 16.5%, 590 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 9.3%, 50 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $116.61 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $2.00.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $452.35 billion. The average EPS estimate is $7.90.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 7,860 members out of 8,351 rating the stock outperform, and 491 members rating it underperform. Among 1,769 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 1,693 give Exxon Mobil a green thumbs-up, and 76 give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Exxon Mobil is outperform, with an average price target of $94.94.

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