
Philip Morris (PM) and Phillips 66 (PSX) shares hit new 52-week highs in Wednesday’s intraday trading, buoyed by better-than-expected quarterly earnings and upbeat brokerage commentary, respectively.
At the time of writing, PM shares were up 3%, tracking its first gain in three sessions, while PSX shares edged 0.2% higher.
Philip Morris International reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results on Wednesday, driven by continued momentum in its smoke-free products business, while the company also raised its full-year 2026 earnings outlook.
The tobacco giant reported quarterly net revenue of $11.19 billion, marking the first time it crossed $11 billion. Analysts on average expected revenue of $10.63 billion, according to Fiscal.ai data. Earnings came in at $2.2 per share, compared to consensus estimates of $2.05 per share.
Phillip Morris also forecast FY2026 earnings per share in a range of $7.19 to $7.34, compared to $7.25 it reported in the previous year.
Phillips 66 drew investor attention on Wednesday after Goldman Sachs and BofA raised their price targets ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings, citing improving refining fundamentals.
Goldman Sachs lifted its price target to $235 from $207, while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating, according to The Fly. This represents an 11% upside potential from current levels. The brokerage said tighter supply-demand dynamics are supporting stronger refining margins, earnings estimate upgrades, and continued shareholder returns.
BofA also raised its price target to $213 from $176, keeping a ‘Neutral’ rating as it increased refiners' price targets across the sector to reflect stronger crack spreads.
The bullish outlook came as oil prices climbed to their highest levels in over a month after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further action against Iran following attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. At the time of writing, West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 2.9% to around $86.78 a barrel, while Brent crude gained 3.2% to $93.96 per barrel.
Retail sentiment for PSX on Stocktwits trended in the ‘bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours. The stock has surged more than 63% so far in 2026.
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