On Monday morning, ExxonMobil (XOM) received an analyst upgrade. Here’s what the move means for mutual fund investors.
Inside the Upgrade
BMO Capital has upgraded Exxon (XOM) from “Under Perform” to “Market Perform” on a valuation call. BMO has also boosted its price target on XOM from $85 to $95.
According to the firm: “although the stock looks expensive versus peers, the defensive nature of the company during what we believe will remain a weak period for most of 2015 leads us to increase the rating.”
In a separate move, BMO has cut its 2015 oil price forecast to $67 a barrel.
Trying to Find the Bottom in Oil Stocks
The analyst move this morning was more about reassuring investors that although oil prices have collapsed, the largest oil companies offer less volatility than others in the oil patch. It is difficult to predict what the ultimate bottom will be for oil prices, as fund managers may continue to prune losing positions into year end.
Mutual Funds to Watch
Investors interested in Exxon may also consider a mutual fund as an alternative to owning the individual stock. The funds below currently hold the largest stakes in XOM.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| VTSMX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index | 1.67% |
| VFINX | Vanguard 500 Index | 1.06% |
| FUSEX | Fidelity Spartan 500 Index | 0.45% |
The Bottom Line
The funds above are a great way for investors to gain exposure to a diverse bundle of securities and industries. Investors interested in XOM may also be interested in Chevron (CVX) or BP (BP).