Exxon profit rises 41 percent, shares rise

Exxon

Wall Street

oil prices

Exxon, the world's largest publicly traded oil company, reported a profit of $10.33 billion, or $2.13 per share, up from $7.35 billion, or $1.44 per share a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected a profit of $2.12 per share, according to data from Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Oil and natural gas production fell 4 percent in the quarter, the Irving, Texas, company said on Thursday.

Shares of Exxon rose to $82.39 before the start of regular trading, up from a New York Stock Exchange close of $81.07.

(Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston, editing by Dave Zimmerman)