"On our proprietary Quadrix® rating system, ExxonMobil (XOM) has steadily advanced over the past year," says Richard Moroney.

The editor of Dow Theory Forecasts explains, "Out of a possible 100, the oil giant earns an Overall score of 96 -- compared to just 51 in January 2010. As such, we rate the stock a long-term buy.

"Meanwhile, the shares recently rallied to their highest level since January 2009 after Exxon said it earned $1.85 excluding special items in the December quarter, up 46% and $0.22 above the consensus estimate.

"Nowhere is the supply and demand balance as tight as it is with oil; with the somewhat stronger economy here and abroad, the oil gap is closing again," says Jim Powell.

The editor of Global Changes & Opportunities explains, "I think the best way to benefit from rising oil prices is to buy Exxon Mobil (XOM), the world's largest, and one of its most reliable, energy investments.

"I think the price will reach the psychologically important $100 mark by this summer, and maybe a lot sooner.

Analyst Upgrades

• Soleil upgraded Hologic (HOLX) to buy from hold on expectations the company's next-generation breast tomosynthesis instrument is likely to receive FDA approval. The firm raised its target price for shares to $20 from $16.
• ING Group upgraded Total (TOT) to buy from hold.
• BofA/Merrill raised Medicis (MRX) to neutral from underperform.
• CPFL Energia (CPL) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.

BP (BP) shares opened up over 4%. The Wall Street Journal reported the oil giant is in talks with U.S. oil and gas company Apache (APA) and other companies over potential asset sales. The talks are part of the steps BP is taking as it is considering how to pay for the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Sunday Times earlier reported that BP is in talks to sell up to $12 billion of assets to Apache. The WSJ said on Sunday a deal with Apache could be up to $10 billion and could include stakes in BP's Alaskan oil fields. The Times also mentioned that the Obama administration told Exxon Mobil (XOM) it wouldn't interfere with a bid.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded Dell (DELL) to outperform from neutral, citing valuation and improving IT hardware trends. The firm raised its target to $21 from $17.
• Janney Montgomery upgraded Regal Entertainment (RGC) to buy from neutral, citing box office momentum and improving potential for a dividend increase. The firm raised its target for shares to $20.50 from $16.
• Thomas Weisel upgraded CF Industries (CF) to overweight from market weight as it sees reduced financing risk following the equity offering and valuation.
• GameStop (GME) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.
• Exxon Mobil (XOM) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
• Cameron (CAM) was raised to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.

Analyst Upgrades

• Piper Jaffray upgraded UPS (UPS) to overweight from neutral with a $79 price target following the company's better-than-expected Q1 results.
• SunTrust believs Zions Bancorp's (ZION) tangible book value is around $20/share, making any future capital raise not as dilutive as the firm previously expected. The firm upgraded shares to buy from neutral and has a $26 target on the stock.
• FBR Capital upgraded J.B. Hunt (JBHT) to outperform from market perform following the company's better-than-expected Q1 results. The firm raised its target price for shares to $43 from $40.
• American Superconductor (AMSC) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank.
• BP (BP) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Global Payments (GPN) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Aflac Inc. (AFL) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings, though revenue fell short, and offered rosy guidance.
• Avon Products Inc. (AVP) posted Q4 earnings growth that met analysts' expectations but shares sold off.
• Cisco Systems inc. (CSCO) higher Q2 earnings topped the consensus estimate but cash flow fell.
• CME Group Inc. (CME) fell short of analysts' Q4 profit expectations, resulting in price-target cuts.
• ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings and revenue that boosted shares.

Oil giant Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is going to be reporting its fourth quarter numbers on Monday. Going into Monday's report, Wall Street is expecting to see the company post earnings of $1.19 per share.

During the same period last year the company posted earnings of $1.55 a share.

Students from 12 high schools in Alabama have been benefiting from a education program founded by the world's largest oil company, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM).

Students in the Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Programs in Alabama's Jefferson County and Montgomery saw a very impressive 81% increase in passing scores in Advanced Placement math classes.

This morning Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) reported its second quarter numbers, and the oil giant posted its lowest profit in nearly six years.

Going into this morning's earnings announcement analysts were expecting to see the company show earnings of $1.02 per share. Exxon did not even come close, with a reported 84 cents per share excluding one time items.

I'm recommending that traders Cover a Short for Exxon-Mobil (NYSE: XOM), recommended as a Short on June 3, 2009 at a price of $72.09.

Take the minor three points and run. It now appears that Exxon will benefit from several upstream growth opportunities in both oil and liquefied natural gas, and the company's superior technology should result in these projects increasing production quickly and efficiently.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM) announced today that it would not challenge the ruling of an appeals court stating that it was to pay $470 million in interest on the $507.5 million judgment related to the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

The Exxon Valdez oil spill took place back in 1989, and victims have been trying to get some money from Exxon ever since. In 1994 the victims won a $5 billion judgment, but Exxon has fought that ruling for the past 15 years.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) Q1 profit fell despite strong sales of Plavix and Abilify.
• Check Point Software Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: CHKP) was downgraded based on its guidance.
• Domino's Pizza Inc. (NYSE: DPZ) strong Q1 results were boosted by early debt retirement.
• DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) strong Q1 results were driven by Madagascar 2.
• Endo Pharmaceuticals Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ENDP) Q1 results led to an analyst's downgrade.
• E*Trade Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: ETFC) widened its Q1 loss, sending shares sharply lower.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) reported better-than-expected Q1 earnings as revenues surged in the quarter.
• Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC) just beat Q3 expectations despite weak same-store sales growth.
• Corn Products International Inc. (NYSE: CPO) Q1 results were dragged down by higher corn costs.
• Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) Q1 earnings sank on falling sales, job cuts and acquisition costs.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) reported a deeper-than-expected Q1 loss and suspended its dividend.
• Energizer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ENR) posted better-than-expected Q2 earnings but revenue declined.

What was the reason for today's sell-off? Well, the answer is the same as it has been too many days: A culmination of bad news, weak data, bankruptcies, worries about banks and institutions, and that this recession is going to go on much longer than what the market is hoping for.

You might see the same explanation tomorrow if there is another sell-off. And next week. It is the same one from January and the same one from most of last year. Here are today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 7,554.28 -296.13 (-3.77%)
S&P 500 789.35 -37.49 (-4.53%)
Nasdaq 1,470.66 -63.70 (-4.15%)

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