The BareStory
ExxonMobil reported its fourth-quarter financial results for 2025 on Friday, posting net income of $6.5 billion, or $1.53 per share. This figure represents a 14.6% decline from the same period in 2024. Revenue also decreased by 1.3% year-over-year to $82.31 billion. Despite the downturn, which the company attributed in part to lower crude oil prices, both revenue and adjusted earnings per share of $1.71 exceeded analyst expectations.
Operationally, the company achieved its highest full-year net production in more than four decades, averaging 4.7 million barrels per day in 2025. Fourth-quarter production reached 4.98 million barrels per day, driven by record output from assets in Guyana and the Permian Basin. While profits from the production segment fell compared to the third quarter, the refining business saw earnings increase to $3.39 billion.
The earnings release coincides with ongoing discussions regarding the Venezuelan energy sector following the U.S. capture of former leader Nicolás Maduro in early January. President Donald Trump has reportedly pressured oil executives to invest in rebuilding Venezuela's industry. However, Exxon CEO Darren Woods stated on Friday that the country remains "uninvestable" in its current state.
Woods emphasized that Exxon requires legal stability and a transition to a representative government before committing capital, citing the sanctity of contracts. During a January 9 White House meeting, Woods reportedly reminded the President that Exxon's assets had previously been seized by Caracas. While Woods indicated a willingness to dispatch a technical team to assess infrastructure, reports suggest the President was angered by the CEO’s hesitation and threatened to exclude the company from future Venezuelan investments.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
You may see resilience in energy-focused investment portfolios, as ExxonMobil exceeded earnings expectations and maintained strong refining profits despite lower crude prices and declining revenue.
Domestic oil supply remains robust due to record production from the Permian Basin, contributing to the company's highest full-year output levels in over four decades.
Efforts to stabilize Venezuela's energy sector may face delays as U.S. corporations resist administration pressure to invest without guarantees of legal security and political transition.
Future commercial opportunities in Venezuela could be limited for specific U.S. firms if the administration follows through on threats to exclude companies that hesitate to invest immediately.
