The BusinessWeek 50 Ranking
7
Exxon Mobil
Exxon Mobil relishes its role as the "boring" oil giant. That means producing consistent, industry-leading results, like last year's 24% return on capital employed. Sure, high oil and gas prices and strong refining and chemical margins lifted all boats in this industry. But the Irving (Tex.) company's worldwide scope, investing discipline, and leading technology keep it on top in oil booms and busts alike. It's spending heavily to find and produce oil and gas in places like Qatar and Russia. With more than $43 billion in cash from operations and asset sales last year, though, Exxon had plenty left over for shareholders. Its shares have returned 53.4% in the year ended feb. 28, helped by $15 billion in 2004 in dividends and share repurchases. Exxon also built on strengths in chemicals and refining, as other rivals pulled back. And the company boosted its bottom line with unrelenting efforts to drive down costs, including better refinery reliability, improved energy efficiency, and job cuts. It has targeted another $1 billion in efficiencies in 2005.
Company Info
| 2004 Rank | 23 |
| STOCK INFO | XOM |
| Market Value | $405.2 BILLION |
| Total Return | (1-yr.) 53.4%
(3-yr.) 65.0% |
| 2004 sales | $270.8 BILLION |
| Sales Growth | (1-yr.) 21%
(3-yr.) 14.1% |
| Net income | $25.3 BILLION |
| Net Income Growth | (1-yr.) 21%
(3-yr.) 24.5% |
| Net Margin* | 9.4% |
| Return on Equity* | 24.9% |
| Industry | ENERGY |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
More in S&P 500 Companies Scoreboard >
*Trailing 12 months
Company data as of 2/28/05 provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat
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Company Snapshot
Exxon Mobil Corporation operates as a petroleum and petrochemicals company. It primarily engages in exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas; manufacture of petroleum products; and transportation and sale of crude oil, natural gas, and petroleum products. The company also manufactures and markets basic petrochemicals, including olefins, aromatics, polyethylene, fluids, synthetic rubber, oriented polypropylene packaging films, plasticizers, synthetic lubricant basestocks, zeolite catalysts, and polypropylene plastics; and various specialty products. In addition, Exxon Mobil has interests in electric power generation facilities. Its other products include lube basestocks and petroleum specialties, such as waxes, process oils, and asphalt. The company operates approximately in 200 countries worldwide, including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, South America, the Middle East, and the Caspian area. Exxon Mobil is based in Irving, Texas.
No. of Employees
105,200
Data provided by 
