Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on ConocoPhillips, Raises Price Target to $159

ExxonMobil’s Refining Profits Are Set to Jump $4.5 Billion. Here’s What XOM Investors Need to Know.

ExxonMobil expects a $4.5 billion boost to third-quarter earnings from strong refining margins, more than doubling its energy products segment earnings compared to Q2. Despite headwinds from lower oil prices, the company's integrated business model—combining upstream exploration, midstream logistics, and downstream refining—enables more resilient results. This demonstrates the strategic advantage of ExxonMobil's diversified approach compared to pure-play energy companies.

Shares of oil and gas-related companies are trading higher after reports suggesting that Iran placed its armed forced on high alert for 72 hours. Also, reports of an attempted Houthi strike on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu and another Iranian strike on a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz may fuel concerns that high energy prices may persist and benefit the sector.

9 Of 11 Sectors Rise In Friday Trading As Cyclicals Lead

Nine of 11 sectors are higher in Friday’s regular session, with cyclical sectors holding the top three positions. The leaders are separated rather than clustered, with no single gap clearly standing apart from the other breaks across the table.