Exxon (XOM) (AAPL) (BA) (VRX) (WOR) (FOLD) Ratings Reiterated

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA), Valeant Pharmaceuticals (NYSE: VRX), Worthington (NYSE: WOR) and Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOLD) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

Jefferies Group (NYSE:JEF) reiterated its "Buy" rating on Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX).

Jefferies Group reiterated its "Hold" rating on Worthington (WOR).

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) reiterated its "Conviction Buy" rating on Exxon Mobil (XOM).

Needham & Company reiterated its "Buy" rating on Apple, Inc. (AAPL).

UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) reiterated its "Neutral" rating on The Boeing Company (BA).

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its "Buy" rating on Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (FOLD).

ExxonMobil (XOM) (HAL) (SLB) (CVX) (NBL) Among Top 2012 Picks

With stability and predictability major considerations for 2012, energy companies are among the attractive investment candidates for the year, led by ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), Halliburton (NYSE:HAL), Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB), Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Noble Energy (NYSE:NBL).

With the majority of investment advisors' top picks doing horrible last year, they're attempting to build out some credibility by focusing on and recommending large-cap stocks that don't have a lot of downside risk.

These of course inevitably include large energy companies which are assured of continuing demand like those mentioned above, which are all on the 2012 lists of many institutional investors.

Exxon Mobil was trading at $85.14, down $0.13, or 0.15 percent, as of 11:06 AM EST. Halliburton was at $34.25, up $0.46, or 1.36 percent. Schlumberger was at $67.68, gaining $0.27, or 0.40 percent. Chevron was at $106.85, falling $0.62, or 0.58 percent. Noble Energy was trading at $94.73, dropping $1.30, or 1.35 percent.

News Corp. (NSW-A) (WLT) (WNR) (XOM) (NSC) (ABC) EPS Changes

News Corp. (NASDAQ: NSW-A), Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT), Western Refining, Inc. (NYSE: WNR), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Norfolk Southern Corp. (NYSE: NSC) and AmerisourceBergen Corp. (NYSE: ABC) had their EPS estimates adjusted by analysts.

News Corp. (NSW-A) ‘s EPS estimates were raised by analysts at UBS AG. The analysts now have a “neutral” rating and a $19.00 price target on the stock.

Walter Energy (WLT) had its EPS estimates cut by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS). They have a “Buy” rating and a price target of $147.00 on the company.

Western Refining, Inc. (WNR) had its EPS estimates raised by Credit Suisse (NYSE:CS). They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $26.00 on the company.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) had its EPS estimates cut by Credit Suisse. They have a “Neutral” rating and a price target of $95.00 on the company.

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) had its EPS estimates raised by Credit Suisse. They have an “Outperform” rating and a price target of $90.00 on the company.

AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC) had its EPS estimates raised by UBS AG. They have a “Buy” rating and a price target of $47.00 on the company.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) (WEC) (CHH) (ZMH) (CELG) (CERN) Price Targets Changed

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC), Choice Hotels (NYSE: CHH), Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH), Celgene (NASDAQ: CELG) and Cerner Corp (NASDAQ: CERN) had price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) had its price target raised by Barclays Capital from $95.00 to $98.00. They have an “Equal Weight” rating on the company.

Wisconsin Energy (WEC) had its price target raised by Ladenburg Thalmann to $34.00. They have a “Neutral” rating on the company.

Choice Hotels (CHH) had its price target raised by Citigroup (NYSE:C) from $37.00 to $40.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (ZMH) had its price target lowered by Barclays Capital from $72.00 to $67.00. They have an “Overweight” rating on the company.

Celgene (CELG) had its price target raised by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from $71.00 to $75.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Cerner Corp. (CERN) had its price target raised by Morgan Keegan from $70.00 to $72.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) (ACE) (CCSC) (SHW) Ratings Reiterated

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), ACE Ltd (NYSE: ACE), Country Style Cookin (NASDAQ: CCSC) and The Sherwin Williams Co (NYSE: SHW) had ratings on them reiterated by analysts.

JMP Securities reiterated its "Outperform" rating on ACE Ltd (ACE). They have a price target of $78.00 on the company.

Maxim Group reiterated its "Sell" rating on Country Style Cookin (CCSC). They have a price target of $8.00 on the company.

Zacks Investment Research reiterated its "Neutral" rating on The Sherwin Williams Co. (SHW). They have a price target of $86.00 on the company.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) reiterated its "Buy" rating on Exxon Mobil (XOM).

Exxon Mobil (XOM) (ASTE) (TLB) (CSCO) (SWY) Upgraded

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Astec Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTE), Talbots (NYSE: TLB), Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) upgraded by analysts.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) was upgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Buy” rating.

Astec Industries, Inc. (ASTE) was upgraded by Canaccord Genuity from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $40.00 on the company.

Talbots (TLB) was upgraded by Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) from an “Underweight” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $3.00 on the company.

Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) was upgraded by Auriga from a “Hold” rating to a “Buy” rating. They have a price target of $20.00 on the company, up from $16.00.

Safeway Inc. (SWY) was upgraded by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) from an “Underweight” rating to an “Equal Weight” rating.

BP (BP) (APC) (COP) (XOM) (RDS-A) (HAL) (CVX) (MRO) Jumped Monday

BP (NYSE:BP), Anadarko (NYSE:APC), Conoco (NYSE:COP), Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Shell (NYSE:RDS-A), Halliburton (NYSE:HAL), Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) all closed up Monday on news consumer spending was slightly up.

Crude for October delivery climbed $1.90 to $87.27 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest settlement since Aug. 17. Prices have dropped 4.5 percent this year.

Brent oil for October settlement jumped 52 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $111.88 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The European benchmark traded at a premium of $24.61 to U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures, compared with a record $26.21 on Aug. 19.

Marathon closed at $26.41, gaining $0.52. or 2.01 percent. Chevron closed at $98.74, jumping $1.89, or 1.95 percent. Halliburton ended the session at $42.81, climbing $1.35, or 3.26 percent. Royal Dutch Shell closed at $65.33, rising $1.11, or 1.73 percent. Exxon closed at $74.12, increasing $1.48, or 2.04 percent. Conoco closed the day at $67.78, up $2.27, or 3.47 percent. Anadarko closed at $71.75, gaining $2.48, or 3.58 percent. BP closed at $39.25, rising $1.06, or 2.78 percent.

Exxon (XOM) (AVGO) (CBS) (CRR) (DHT) Price Targets Changed

Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Avago Technologies (NASDAQ: AVGO), CBS (NYSE: CBS), Carbo Ceramics (NYSE: CRR) and DHT Holdings Inc (NYSE: DHT) price targets adjusted by analysts.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) had its price target lowered by The Benchmark Company from $74.00 to $64.00. They have a “Sell” rating on the company.

Avago Technologies (AVGO) had its price target lowered by Kaufman Brothers from $40.00 to $37.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

CBS (CBS) had its price target lowered by Needham & Company from $35.00 to $30.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Carbo Ceramics (CRR) had its price target raised by Dahlman Rose from $216.00 to $229.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

DHT Holdings Inc. (DHT) had its price target lowered by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from $4.30 to $2.75. They have a “Neutral” rating on the company.

WESCO (WCC) (XOM) (AOL) (JEF) (DMD) (ACM) Price Targets Changed

WESCO International, Inc. (NYSE: WCC), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), AOL (NYSE: AOL), Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF), Demand Media Inc. (NYSE: DMD) and AECOM Technology Co. (NYSE: ACM) had price targets adjusted by analysts.

WESCO International, Inc. (WCC) had its price target lowered by FBR Capital from $75.00 to $68.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) had its price target lowered by Jefferies to $80.00. They have a “Hold” rating on the company.

AOL (AOL) had its price target lowered by RBC Capital from $20.00 to $15.00. They have a “Sector Perform” rating on the company.

Jefferies Group, Inc. (JEF) had its price target lowered by Ticonderoga from $26.00 to $23.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company.

Demand Media Inc. (DMD) had its price target lowered by RBC Capital from $24.00 to $13.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

AECOM Technology Co. (ACM) had its price target lowered by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) to $31.00. They have a “Buy” rating on the company. They cited valuation as the catalyst behind the call.

Conoco (COP) (XOM) (RDS-A) (HAL) (CVX) Trading Mixed

Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Shell (NYSE:RDS-A), Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX) were trading mixed today as oil prices were trading down in the session.

Crude-oil futures were trading down $0.79 to $97.65 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

U. S. crude oil prices also gained some back from earlier losses spurred by comments from the German Bundesbank, which said growth in Europe's largest economy will probably slow down.

Chevron (CVX) was trading at $103.43, falling $0.44, or 0.42 percent, as of 1:51 PM EDT. Halliburton (HAL) was at $47.35, gaining $0.45, or 0.96 percent. Shell (RDS-A) was trading at $70.00, down $0.63, or 0.89 percent. Exxon Mobil (XOM) was at $82.04, losing $0.29, or 0.35 percent. Conoco (COP) was trading at $72.88, up $0.18, or 0.25 percent.

Petrobras (PBR) (CRK) (ECA) (XOM) (COP) Trade Mixed as Energy Falls

Shares of Comstock Resources (NYSE:CRK), Encana Corp. (NYSE:ECA), Petrobras (NYSE:PBR), Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) and Conoco (NYSE:COP) traded mixed on Thursday as oil and gas were down on the day.

After the International Energy Agency expressed concerns about the effects of higher oil and gasoline prices on the global economy, oil fell in Thursday trading.

Benchmark crude for June delivery fell $1.63 to settle at $98.93 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

June, heating oil fell 1.12 cents to settle at $2.8947 a gallon, gasoline dropped 2.95 cents to $2.926 a gallon and natural gas fell 10.5 cents to $4.161 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Petrobras (PBR) closed Thursday at $33.69, falling $0.57, or 1.66 percent.

Exxon (XOM) (COP) (CVX) (BP) Rising on Lower Gas Inventory

Shares of oil companies Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and BP (NYSE:BP) were trading up today after a report from the Energy Information Administration saying gas inventory was up less than expected and oil inventory was flat.

Light, sweet crude West Texas Intermediate oil for June delivery is up $3.61 to $100.52 a barrel on the Nymex.

Brent crude July contracts rose $2.74 to $112.73 a barrel.

This could be an indicator that refinery demand may possibly be on the rebound.

MF Global wrote in a note to clients, “We think oil prices will continue to erode and we still think $90 is a reasonable short-term target on WTI, although short-term, we are getting a tad oversold and may be in for a bounce here.”

Chevron was trading at $102.96, gaining $2.55, or 2.54 percent, as of 2:19 PM EDT. BP was at $43.16, up $0.36, or 0.84 percent. ConocoPhillips (COP) was trading at $73.03, jumping $1.49, or 2.08 percent. Exxon Mobil (XOM) was at $81.76, rising $1.35, or 1.68 percent.

Shares of BP (BP) (COP) (XOM) (RDS-A) (DVN) Close Up

Dropping fuel prices prices didn't stop shares of BP (NYSE:BP), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS-A) and Devon Energy from all closing up on Tuesday.

Benchmark crude for June delivery dropped 47 cents to settle at $96.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell as low as $95.02 during the trading session.

Natural gas was down 3 percent, falling 13.3 cents to $4.246 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In Nymex trading in June contracts, heating oil fell 2.93 cents to settle at $2.8451 per gallon, gasoline futures were down 1.18 cents to settle at $2.9193 a gallon and natural gas declined 13.3 cents to settle at $4.246 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, Brent crude for June delivery was lower by 85 cents to settle at $109.99 on the ICE Futures exchange.

Exxon closed Tuesday at $80.41, gaining $0.17, or 0.21 percent.

Exxon (XOM) Trading Down While Oil Prices Rebound

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) was trading slightly down even as oil prices rebounded today.

In the U.S., June crude climbed $1.07 at $99.28, having jumped from a session low of $95.25 hit earlier in the session.

In London, Brent crude for June delivery rose $1.26 at $113.83 a barrel by 1:35 p.m. EDT, rising after slumping to a session low of $110.15.

According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for oil this year will drop to 1.29 million barrels a day against prior estimates of 1.43 million barrels a day.

The U.S. dollar fell 0.29 percent against a basket of six currencies as the euro strengthened after hints from European Central Bank policy maker Lee Coene that the interest rate boost in April won't be the last one.

Exxon was trading at $81.07, down $0.05, or 0.06 percent, as of 2:38 PM EDT.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) Falls as Oil Prices Drop

Oil as gas prices fell Wednesday, dragging many energy companies like Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) down with them.

Brent crude settled down $5.06 at $112.57 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures dropped $5.67 to settle at $98.21.

Natural gas for June delivery settled 6.5 cents, or 1.5%, lower, at $4.181 per million British thermal units on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The U.S. Oil Fund (USO) dropped 4.2 percent to closed at $39.35, the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) was down 2.9 percent to close at $74.28, and the U.S. gasoline fund LP (UGA) plunged 6.4 percent to close at $51.44.

Exxon Mobil Corporation participates in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, and manufacture of petroleum products, as well as transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) closed Wednesday at $81.12, down $1.75, or 2.11 percent.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Trades Down as Oil Continues to Plunge in Price

The falling price of oil pressured the share price of the oil giant Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) Monday, as crude futures continue to move downward in May. T

U.S. crude futures were down 2.3 percent and gasoline futures dropped 5 percent to hit a nine-week low as worries mounted about high prices squelching energy demand and the fragile economy weigh on the industry.

Crude futures have fallen close to 15 percent so far on the month.

Oil futures were down 2.3 percent to $97.37 a barrel in New York. June Brent fell to $112.87, down 1 percent for Monday.

Gasoline futures for June delivery declined 14 cents, or 5.01 percent, to end the session at $2.93 a gallon, the lowest close since March 16.

U.S. gasoline at the retail level fell to $3.955 Monday from $3.961 Sunday. Diesel prices dropped $4.123 from $4.127.

June natural gas closed up 7 cents, or 1.7 percent, at $4.32 per million British thermal units. Natural gas prices were up on concerns flooding in Louisiana may cut back on supply.

Heating oil futures were down Monday, with the June heating oil contract closing at $2.87 a gallon, down 7 cents, or 2.3 percent.

Exxon Mobil Corporation participates in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, the manufacture of petroleum products, and the transportation and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) closed Monday at $80.24, down $0.63, or 0.78 percent.

Exxon (XOM) CEO Says Oil Should be $70 a Barrel at Highest

Exxon (NYSE:XOM) CEO Rex Tillerson said last week the price of oil per barrel should be somewhere from $60 to $70 a barrel, but is higher because of major oil companies using futures contracts to lock in current high prices. He also cited the large amount of trading by quantitative hedge funds as another reason.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for June delivery on Friday settled at $99.65 a barrel, up 68 cents, or 0.69 percent, after trading in a range of $97.09 to $100.70.

For the week, front-month crude climbed $2.47, or 2.5 percent.

ICE Brent for June delivery settled at $113.83 a barrel, up 85 cents, or 0.75 percent, after trading in a range of $111.72 to $114.92. The Brent crude contract for July delivery was at 66 cents, or 0.6 percent higher on Friday, at $112.99. Last week, Brent crude jumped $4.70, or 4.3 percent.

The U.S. dollar index was up 0.8 percent higher at $75.72 as the euro was down 1 percent against the dollar at $1.411. On Friday, European officials said that Greece, Ireland and Portugal's sovereign debt problems may be worse than previously believed.

NYMEX June gasoline settled at $3.0744 a gallon, up 1.05 cents, or 0.34 percent, after trading in a range of $3.0342 to $3.1388.

For the week, front-month RBOB fell 1.57 cents, or 0.5 percent.

NYMEX June heating oil closed at $2.9422 a gallon, rising 2.85 cents, or 1 percent.

Front-month heating oil for last week was up 9.65 cents.

ExxonMobil closed Friday at $80.87, falling $0.18, or 0.22 percent.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) (FTK) (BHI) (LUFK) (COP) Trade Positive as Oil, Gas Rise

Crude oil, natural gas and gasoline prices jumped Tuesday, pushing up the share prices of Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), Flotek Industries, Inc. (NYSE:FTK), Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI), Lufkin Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUFK) and Conoco (NYSE:COP).

Benchmark crude for May delivery rose $1.33 to settle at $103.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Heating oil jumped 3.94 cents to settle at $3.0012 a gallon. Gasoline futures climbed 10.13 cents to settle at $3.3797 a gallon, while natural gas for June delivery increased 8.7 cents to settle at $4.303 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Uncertainty remains as to the effects of the flooding along the Mississippi River could have on regional refinery operations, which could slow down gasoline production and put upward pressure on prices.

ConocoPhillips (COP) closed at $74.60, up $0.88, or 1.19 percent.

Carrizo (CRZO) (UPL) (WTI) (LUFK) (XOM) Trade Up as Oil Prices Rebound

Most oil and related companies performed strong Monday, as Carrizo Oil & Gas (NASDAQ:CRZO), Ultra Petroleum (NYSE:UPL), W&T Offshore (NYSE:WTI), Lufkin Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUFK) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) traded up as the price of oil rebounded.

Gastar was the only one of the list above to close down Monday.

Crude oil for June delivery climbed $5.37 to settle at $102.55 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the largest one-day boost since February 22.

Brent crude for June settlement jumped $6.77, or 6.2 percent, to $115.90 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.

Wholesale gasoline prices soared 5 percent on Monday to $3.20 a gallon on fears that refineries in Mississippi may have to shut down because of the Mississippi River flooding.

The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline Monday fell by a penny to $3.96, according to AAA.

Immediate delivery futures of Texas crude oil rose $5.53 to $102.71 a barrel. Natural gas was up 0.06 cents to $4.17 per mbtu, while gasoline prices fell 20.17 cents to 329.18 cents a gallon.

Carrizo Oil & Gas (CRZO) closed Monday at $36.51, climbing $2.24, or 6.54 percent.

Shares of (KOG) (WLL) (SWN) (BHI) (XOM) Trade Mixed as Oil Closed Down 15% Last Week

Companies exposed to oil and the industry traded mixed to end the week, as oil prices plummeted 15 percent last week, taking Kodiak Oil & Gas (Amex:KOG), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE:WLL), Southwestern Energy (NYSE:SWN), Baker Hughes Incorporated (NYSE:BHI) and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), and others, down with it.

Light, sweet crude oil for June delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange dropped $2.62 to settle at $97.18 a barrel, matching the eight-week low of March 15. The U.S. Oil Fund (USO) closed down 1.1 percent on Friday.

For the week, the June oil futures contract fell 14.7 percent to $113.93.

Light, sweet crude for June delivery fell $2.62, or 2.6%, to close at $97.18 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, Brent crude finished the day off $1.67 at $109.13 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Republicans went on the offensive against higher oil and gas prices by passing a bill to hasten the leasing process dragging on in the Gulf of Mexico as the Obama administration drag their feet on taking action. The bill would also require leasing to be allowed off the coast of Virginia.

According to Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), the bill helped push down the price of oil as it sent a message to the market they're serious about the future supply.

All Obama has done so far has obsessed on the fantasy of green, clean or so-called alternative energy; a dubious matter at best, and at worst, ignoring what they country needs now and is available to it.

In other Nymex trading for June contracts, heating oil fell 4.12 cents to $2.8457 a U.S. gallon and gasoline futures were down 0.53 cents to $3.0901 a U.S. gallon. Natural gas fell 3.4 cents to $4.297 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Kodiak Oil & Gas (KOG) closed Friday at $6.18, gaining $0.10, or 1.64 percent.