Exxon Mobil stock looks to be a strong premium-buying candidate
Oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) operates under four brands across the world: Esso, Exxon, Mobil, and ExxonMobil Chemical. The stock has been one of the biggest dividend stocks since 1911 and has maintained its high-yielding dividend into 2020. However this decision could prove incredibly costly as the company seems to be in clear need of capital. The company has taken major losses in revenue and net income over the past two years. Specifically, 2020 has dealt Exxon Mobil the damage with a reported revenue loss of $50 billion and a reported net income loss of $11 billion, primarily as a result of the pandemic.
Over the past month, Exxon Mobil has announced plans to reduce staffing in the U.S. and Canada. In addition, Exxon Mobil has taken on a massive $68.8 billion in debt and is only left with $8.83 billion in cash to back the company.
Exxon Mobil stock has been one of the biggest losers of 2020 to date. Exxon Mobil stock is currently down 45% year-to-date. And while the shares have bounced off the $30 level twice in 2020, the 200-day moving average has contained the 12% quarterly gain.
XOM may be presenting investors with an amazing deal after hitting its bottom. The company’s focus on reducing expenses may be just what it needs to continue recovering. At Exxon Mobil's current stock price, if Exxon Mobil can raise its net profits back up to just 60-80% of what it produced in prior years, Exxon Mobil stock would be trading at a price-earnings ratio around 10.00-15.00. This is in stark contrast to its present price-earnings ratio of 49.01.
If Exxon Mobil can successfully reduce costs and keep paying its investors, XOM stock should see decent growth in the future. Overall, Exxon Mobil stock comes with many risks, but will likely see its revenue and net gains recover sometime in 2021. Furthermore, the company’s dedication to maintaining its dividend means Exxon Mobil is also a good candidate for high-yielding dividend returns.
Further, if you prefer options over stocks, Exxon Mobil stock is currently rocking a rank of 85 out of 100 on the Schaeffer's Volatility Scorecard (SVS). A high SVS reading indicates that XOM stock has consistently delivered bigger returns than its options implied volatility (IV) levels have predicted, meaning it may be a strong candidate for premium-buying strategies going forward.89