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Imperial Oil (TSE:IMO)
TSX:IMO

Imperial Oil (IMO) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:IMO

Imperial Oil

(TSX:IMO)

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Outperform 72 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
C$162.00
â–²(9.10% Upside)
Imperial Oil's overall stock score is driven by strong financial performance and positive earnings call highlights, including record production and strategic restructuring plans. However, technical indicators suggest potential short-term bearish momentum, and recent revenue declines and restructuring charges present some risks.
Positive Factors
Balance Sheet Strength
A low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17 and a 19.47% ROE indicate conservative leverage and efficient equity use. This durable financial footing supports capital allocation flexibility, resilience to commodity cycles, and ability to fund upstream projects or return capital without stressing liquidity over the next 2–6 months.
Cash Generation & Returns
Sustained operating cash flow near $1.8B and equivalent capital returned to shareholders demonstrate strong cash conversion and disciplined capital deployment. This persistent cash generation underpins dividends, buybacks, and reinvestment capacity, strengthening long-term shareholder support and financial flexibility.
Restructuring Targeting Cost Cuts
A formal restructuring targeting $150M in annual savings by 2028 is a structural efficiency initiative. If executed, it will lower the company's cost base, improve operating margins, and enhance cash flow resiliency across commodity cycles, supporting sustainable earnings improvement over multiple years.
Negative Factors
Revenue Trend Decline
A multi-period revenue decline (3.20% TTM) signals a potential structural headwind from lower realizations, product mix shifts, or downstream market pressure. If persistent, declining top-line can compress margins, limit reinvestment, and reduce the buffer for cyclical downturns over the medium term.
Restructuring & Impairment Charges
Large restructuring ($330M) and noncash impairment ($406M) materially reduced reported earnings and reflect asset reconfiguration costs. Such charges can indicate prior overinvestment or portfolio shifts, reduce near-term earnings power, and create execution risk as savings must offset the one-time losses over subsequent quarters.
Chemical Segment Weakness
Declining chemical earnings and weaker polyethylene margins highlight structural pressure in petrochemicals. As petrochemical margins can be cyclical and capital intensive, sustained weakness would reduce segment diversification benefits and weigh on consolidated earnings and cash conversion in the medium term.

Imperial Oil (IMO) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Imperial Oil Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionImperial Oil Limited engages in exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores for, and produces crude oil, natural gas, synthetic oil, and bitumen. As of December 31, 2021, this segment had 386 million oil-equivalent barrels of proved undeveloped reserves. The Downstream segment is involved in the transportation and refining of crude oil, blending of refined products and the distribution, and marketing of refined products. It also transports crude oil to refineries by contracted pipelines, common carrier pipelines, and rail; maintains a distribution system to move petroleum products to market by pipeline, tanker, rail, and road transport; and owns and operates fuel terminals, natural gas liquids, and products pipelines in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. In addition, this segment markets and supplies petroleum products to motoring public through approximately 2,400 Esso and Mobil-branded sites. Further, it sells petroleum products, including fuel, asphalt, and lubricants for industrial and transportation customers, independent marketers, and resellers, as well as other refiners serving the agriculture, residential heating, and commercial markets through branded fuel and lubricant resellers. The Chemical segment manufactures and markets various petrochemicals, benzene, aromatic and aliphatic solvents, plasticizer intermediates, and polyethylene resin. Imperial Oil Limited has a strategic agreement with E3 Metals Corp. to advance a lithium-extraction pilot in Alberta. The company was incorporated in 1880 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Imperial Oil Limited is a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
How the Company Makes MoneyImperial Oil generates revenue primarily through its integrated business model, which includes upstream exploration and production, downstream refining, and marketing operations. The company earns money through the sale of crude oil and natural gas produced from its oil sands and conventional production assets. In the downstream segment, Imperial refines crude oil into various petroleum products and sells them through its retail network and commercial channels. Key revenue streams include the sale of gasoline and diesel at its retail stations, as well as the production and sale of petrochemicals. Significant partnerships, such as joint ventures with other energy companies and collaborations related to technology and sustainability initiatives, also contribute to its earnings. Additionally, fluctuations in global oil prices and operational efficiencies play crucial roles in influencing the company's profitability.

Imperial Oil Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 31, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 24, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong operational and financial performance, including record production and cash flow, and strategic restructuring plans aimed at future growth. However, notable restructuring and impairment charges, along with a decline in some earnings segments, tempered the positive news.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record-Breaking Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns
Generated cash flow from operations of nearly $1.8 billion and returned over $1.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.
Record Production at Kearl
Kearl delivered 316,000 barrels per day gross, the highest quarterly production in the asset's history.
Strong Downstream Utilization
Downstream utilization reached 98%, significantly higher quarter-over-quarter, even with planned turnaround activity.
Operational Efficiency Improvements
Unit cash costs at Kearl reduced to USD 15.13 per barrel, a decrease of nearly USD 4 per barrel compared to the second quarter.
Restructuring Plans for Future Growth
Announced restructuring plans to improve efficiency, with expected annual expense reductions of $150 million by 2028.
Negative Updates
Restructuring Charges
Recorded a restructuring charge of $330 million before tax, with an unfavorable earnings impact of $249 million after tax.
Impairment Charge for Calgary Campus
Signed an agreement to sell the Calgary campus, resulting in a noncash impairment charge of $406 million before tax.
Decline in Upstream Earnings
Net income from the quarter is $1.094 billion, down $143 million from the third quarter of 2024, driven by lower upstream realizations.
Chemical Business Earnings Decline
Chemical business earnings were $21 million, down $7 million compared to the third quarter of 2024, driven by weaker polyethylene margins.
Company Guidance
During Imperial Oil's third quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported cash flow from operations of nearly $1.8 billion and ended the quarter with approximately $1.9 billion in cash on hand. The company delivered over $1.8 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks. Record crude production was achieved, with Kearl delivering 316,000 barrels per day gross, marking the highest quarterly production in the asset's history. Cold Lake's production averaged 150,000 barrels per day, while Syncrude production averaged 78,000 barrels per day. Refinery utilization was high at 98%, even with planned turnaround activity. The company also announced restructuring plans aimed at reducing annual expenses by $150 million by 2028. These actions are expected to enhance cash flow growth through increased production, reduced downtime, and lower operating costs, while leveraging technology and ExxonMobil's expertise. The company recorded a restructuring charge of $330 million before tax, impacting earnings by $249 million after tax, and a noncash impairment charge of $406 million before tax from the sale of its Calgary campus. Net income for the quarter was $539 million, excluding identified items, resulting in $1.094 billion, down $143 million from the third quarter of 2024.

Imperial Oil Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Imperial Oil demonstrates strong profitability with a solid gross profit margin and a robust balance sheet characterized by low leverage and high return on equity. However, the recent revenue decline and room for improvement in cash flow efficiency slightly temper the overall financial performance.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Imperial Oil's income statement reflects a strong gross profit margin of 18.45% and a net profit margin of 9.48% for the TTM, indicating solid profitability. However, the company experienced a revenue decline of 3.20% in the TTM, which could be a concern if the trend continues. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are healthy, showing efficient operations despite the revenue dip.
Balance Sheet
80
Positive
The balance sheet is robust with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, suggesting conservative leverage. Return on equity is strong at 19.47%, indicating effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio is stable, reflecting a solid financial position with a good balance between assets and equity.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash flow analysis shows a positive free cash flow growth of 6.53% in the TTM, demonstrating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is close to 1, indicating good cash conversion from earnings. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.72 suggests room for improvement in cash flow efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue47.99B51.51B50.90B59.51B37.51B22.28B
Gross Profit8.15B9.20B9.22B12.19B6.09B1.72B
EBITDA7.69B8.24B8.27B11.28B5.23B845.00M
Net Income4.00B4.79B4.89B7.34B2.48B-1.86B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets30.85B42.94B41.20B43.52B40.78B38.03B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments1.34B979.00M864.00M3.75B2.15B771.00M
Total Debt3.03B4.16B4.33B4.43B5.42B5.28B
Total Liabilities13.84B19.46B18.98B21.11B19.05B16.61B
Stockholders Equity17.01B23.47B22.22B22.41B21.73B21.42B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow4.78B4.11B1.95B8.96B4.37B-70.00M
Operating Cash Flow6.58B5.98B3.73B10.48B5.48B798.00M
Investing Cash Flow-1.74B-1.82B-1.69B-618.00M-1.01B-802.00M
Financing Cash Flow-4.47B-4.04B-4.92B-8.27B-3.08B-943.00M

Imperial Oil Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price148.49
Price Trends
50DMA
130.32
Positive
100DMA
129.10
Positive
200DMA
118.47
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
5.21
Negative
RSI
68.51
Neutral
STOCH
86.74
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:IMO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 148.49 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 138.21, above the 50-day MA of 130.32, and above the 200-day MA of 118.47, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 5.21 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 68.51 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 86.74 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:IMO.

Imperial Oil Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
81
Outperform
C$109.68B16.6016.17%5.23%8.06%-10.64%
77
Outperform
C$86.49B14.8313.25%3.91%-3.08%-31.48%
73
Outperform
$52.34B16.0210.65%3.40%-9.17%-12.97%
72
Outperform
C$74.99B23.2814.30%2.45%-6.18%-14.06%
70
Outperform
$84.31B24.8312.96%4.41%-3.98%-33.45%
68
Neutral
$68.28B129.797.96%0.19%23.88%350.69%
65
Neutral
$15.17B7.614.09%5.20%3.87%-62.32%
* Energy Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:IMO
Imperial Oil
148.49
55.53
59.74%
TSE:CCO
Cameco
149.65
80.10
115.15%
TSE:CNQ
Canadian Natural
51.90
10.20
24.48%
TSE:CVE
Cenovus Energy
26.99
6.67
32.81%
TSE:SU
Suncor Energy
72.72
20.00
37.95%
TSE:TRP
TC Energy
81.98
17.12
26.40%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 07, 2025