Nvidia Is Thriving, While These Dividend ETFs Are Outperforming.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 02 2026
0mins
Source: Barron's
Market Rally: The market rally is expanding beyond just tech stocks, indicating a broader recovery.
Dividend-Paying Stocks: Companies like Exxon Mobil, Walmart, Ford, and Coca-Cola are outperforming traditional tech favorites.
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Analyst Views on XOM
Wall Street analysts forecast XOM stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 150.620
Low
114.00
Averages
132.17
High
158.00
Current: 150.620
Low
114.00
Averages
132.17
High
158.00
About XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation is an energy provider and chemical manufacturer. The Company’s principal business involves exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas; the manufacture, trade, transport and sale of crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals and a wide variety of specialty products; and pursuit of lower-emission and other new business opportunities, including carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, lower-emission fuels, Proxxima systems, carbon materials, and lithium. Its Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. The Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments manufacture and sell petroleum products and petrochemicals. Energy Products segment includes fuels, aromatics, and catalysts and licensing. Chemical Products segment consists of olefins, polyolefins, and intermediates. Specialty Products segment includes finished lubricants, basestocks and waxes, synthetics, and elastomers and resins.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Exxon Mobil's Trading Head Retires Amid Losses
- Executive Retirement: Tracey Gunnlaugsson, head of global trading at Exxon Mobil, is retiring; she was appointed to lead the trading division in 2023 after nearly five years as VP of human resources, indicating potential shifts in the company's strategic direction.
- Trading Loss Impact: Despite rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, Exxon reported a $3.9 billion paper loss from derivatives in Q1, pushing net income to its lowest level in five years, highlighting short-term challenges in its trading strategy.
- Competitive Disadvantage: Unlike European oil majors, Exxon's trading strategy focuses on optimizing internal production and supply chain flows, which, while providing predictability, limits profit opportunities during extreme market fluctuations, potentially affecting its market share.
- Future Profitability Outlook: CFO Neil Hansen indicated that the current timing impacts are expected to unwind in subsequent quarters, restoring profitability, while CEO Darren Woods expressed optimism that the losses are merely timing issues that will resolve themselves.
See More
Oil Prices Surge Amid Conflict, Positive Long-Term Outlook
- Surge in Oil Prices: Brent crude oil prices have surged over 50% this year, rising from around $60 to over $90 per barrel, although still below the nearly $120 peak seen at the war's onset, reflecting market sensitivity to Middle Eastern tensions.
- Long-Term Price Expectations: Shell's CEO, Wael Sawan, anticipates that while oil prices may dip in the short term after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the ongoing growth in global oil and gas demand will drive prices up over the next five to ten years, necessitating the exploration of more challenging resources to meet this demand.
- Investment in Future Supply: Shell aims to add 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030 and is exploring new resource opportunities in Angola and South Africa, which will help meet future global supply needs and capitalize on rising prices.
- Industry Dynamics: Other major oil companies like ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum are also investing in new resources, with ExxonMobil's investment in the UD1 block in Trinidad and Tobago potentially paving the way for nearly $22 billion in future development, further driving industry growth.
See More
US Inflation Hits Three-Year High Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Rising Inflation: The US consumer price index rose to an annual rate of 4.2% in May, with Trump expressing optimism that prices will drop sharply once the conflict with Iran concludes, reflecting a potentially misleading confidence in economic stability amidst rising costs.
- Geopolitical Tensions: US airstrikes on Iran have escalated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, driving oil prices higher, with July crude futures increasing by 2.94% to $92.68 per barrel and Brent futures rising by 2.52% to $95.45, indicating market sensitivity to energy price fluctuations.
- Market Volatility: Amid rising inflation and energy prices, Wall Street faced significant declines on Wednesday, with the Dow dropping over 900 points, highlighting investor concerns about future economic prospects, particularly as chip stocks experienced substantial sell-offs.
- Meta's Investment in India: Meta has agreed to lease an AI-enabled data center with a capacity of 168 megawatts from Reliance Industries in India, expected to be delivered within two years, which will enhance Meta's global AI infrastructure and demonstrate its long-term commitment to the Indian market.
See More
US Stocks Plunge Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Decline: On Wednesday, the S&P 500 Index fell by 1.62%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.87%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index decreased by 1.98%, indicating a significant market reaction to rising geopolitical tensions that undermined investor confidence.
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices rose over 2% due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which not only exacerbated losses in stocks and bonds but also pressured airline and trucking companies, highlighting the profound impact of energy price fluctuations on the overall market.
- Stable Inflation Data: The US May Consumer Price Index rose 4.2% year-over-year, in line with expectations, while core CPI increased by 2.9%, alleviating some inflation concerns, although rising oil prices may reignite scrutiny over inflationary pressures.
- Tech Stock Retreat: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks experienced significant declines, with Nvidia and Tesla both dropping over 3%, reflecting a waning confidence in tech stocks that could influence future investment strategies.
See More
ExxonMobil and Chevron Report Significant Profits from Guyana Oil Field
- Guyana Oil Field Profits: ExxonMobil's operations in Guyana generated $4.7 billion in profit last year, highlighting the region's offshore oil boom as a crucial economic buffer amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, thereby enhancing the company's competitive edge in the global oil market.
- Chevron Acquisition Benefits: Chevron's acquisition of Hess is projected to yield $2.89 billion in profits from Guyana by 2025, a strategic move that not only solidifies its market position in the region but also lays the groundwork for future growth.
- Low-Cost High-Yield: The Stabroek block in Guyana spans 6.6 million acres and boasts breakeven costs as low as $25 per barrel for ExxonMobil's projects, significantly below the global average, with total production capacity expected to reach 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, greatly enhancing profitability.
- Investor Appeal: Both ExxonMobil and Chevron have consistently increased dividends for 43 and 39 years respectively, and their investments in Guyana are expected to provide stable cash flows and long-term growth potential, making them ideal candidates for income-seeking investors.
See More
Guyana Oilfield Production Set to Double to 1.7 Million Barrels
- Production Growth Potential: The Stabroek oilfield in Guyana is projected to reach a production level of 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, nearly doubling current output, which will significantly enhance ExxonMobil and Chevron's market position and profitability.
- Significant Investment Returns: ExxonMobil's operations in Guyana generated $4.7 billion in profit last year, highlighting the strategic importance of the region's oil development as a buffer during geopolitical crises, attracting dividend-seeking investors.
- Low-Cost High-Yield: The breakeven cost for projects in the Stabroek oilfield is as low as $25 per barrel, well below the global average, providing ExxonMobil and Chevron with a competitive edge in volatile oil price environments and expected profit growth.
- Long-Term Strategic Positioning: ExxonMobil plans to invest over $60 billion in the Stabroek block, with production expected to reach 1.2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, demonstrating the company's long-term commitment and growth potential in the region.
See More
Exxon Mobil's Trading Head Retires Amid Losses
- Executive Retirement: Tracey Gunnlaugsson, head of global trading at Exxon Mobil, is retiring; she was appointed to lead the trading division in 2023 after nearly five years as VP of human resources, indicating potential shifts in the company's strategic direction.
- Trading Loss Impact: Despite rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, Exxon reported a $3.9 billion paper loss from derivatives in Q1, pushing net income to its lowest level in five years, highlighting short-term challenges in its trading strategy.
- Competitive Disadvantage: Unlike European oil majors, Exxon's trading strategy focuses on optimizing internal production and supply chain flows, which, while providing predictability, limits profit opportunities during extreme market fluctuations, potentially affecting its market share.
- Future Profitability Outlook: CFO Neil Hansen indicated that the current timing impacts are expected to unwind in subsequent quarters, restoring profitability, while CEO Darren Woods expressed optimism that the losses are merely timing issues that will resolve themselves.
See More
Oil Prices Surge Amid Conflict, Positive Long-Term Outlook
- Surge in Oil Prices: Brent crude oil prices have surged over 50% this year, rising from around $60 to over $90 per barrel, although still below the nearly $120 peak seen at the war's onset, reflecting market sensitivity to Middle Eastern tensions.
- Long-Term Price Expectations: Shell's CEO, Wael Sawan, anticipates that while oil prices may dip in the short term after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the ongoing growth in global oil and gas demand will drive prices up over the next five to ten years, necessitating the exploration of more challenging resources to meet this demand.
- Investment in Future Supply: Shell aims to add 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030 and is exploring new resource opportunities in Angola and South Africa, which will help meet future global supply needs and capitalize on rising prices.
- Industry Dynamics: Other major oil companies like ExxonMobil and Occidental Petroleum are also investing in new resources, with ExxonMobil's investment in the UD1 block in Trinidad and Tobago potentially paving the way for nearly $22 billion in future development, further driving industry growth.
See More
US Inflation Hits Three-Year High Amid Geopolitical Tensions
- Rising Inflation: The US consumer price index rose to an annual rate of 4.2% in May, with Trump expressing optimism that prices will drop sharply once the conflict with Iran concludes, reflecting a potentially misleading confidence in economic stability amidst rising costs.
- Geopolitical Tensions: US airstrikes on Iran have escalated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, driving oil prices higher, with July crude futures increasing by 2.94% to $92.68 per barrel and Brent futures rising by 2.52% to $95.45, indicating market sensitivity to energy price fluctuations.
- Market Volatility: Amid rising inflation and energy prices, Wall Street faced significant declines on Wednesday, with the Dow dropping over 900 points, highlighting investor concerns about future economic prospects, particularly as chip stocks experienced substantial sell-offs.
- Meta's Investment in India: Meta has agreed to lease an AI-enabled data center with a capacity of 168 megawatts from Reliance Industries in India, expected to be delivered within two years, which will enhance Meta's global AI infrastructure and demonstrate its long-term commitment to the Indian market.
See More
US Stocks Plunge Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
- Market Decline: On Wednesday, the S&P 500 Index fell by 1.62%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by 1.87%, and the Nasdaq 100 Index decreased by 1.98%, indicating a significant market reaction to rising geopolitical tensions that undermined investor confidence.
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices rose over 2% due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which not only exacerbated losses in stocks and bonds but also pressured airline and trucking companies, highlighting the profound impact of energy price fluctuations on the overall market.
- Stable Inflation Data: The US May Consumer Price Index rose 4.2% year-over-year, in line with expectations, while core CPI increased by 2.9%, alleviating some inflation concerns, although rising oil prices may reignite scrutiny over inflationary pressures.
- Tech Stock Retreat: Chipmakers and AI infrastructure stocks experienced significant declines, with Nvidia and Tesla both dropping over 3%, reflecting a waning confidence in tech stocks that could influence future investment strategies.
See More
ExxonMobil and Chevron Report Significant Profits from Guyana Oil Field
- Guyana Oil Field Profits: ExxonMobil's operations in Guyana generated $4.7 billion in profit last year, highlighting the region's offshore oil boom as a crucial economic buffer amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, thereby enhancing the company's competitive edge in the global oil market.
- Chevron Acquisition Benefits: Chevron's acquisition of Hess is projected to yield $2.89 billion in profits from Guyana by 2025, a strategic move that not only solidifies its market position in the region but also lays the groundwork for future growth.
- Low-Cost High-Yield: The Stabroek block in Guyana spans 6.6 million acres and boasts breakeven costs as low as $25 per barrel for ExxonMobil's projects, significantly below the global average, with total production capacity expected to reach 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, greatly enhancing profitability.
- Investor Appeal: Both ExxonMobil and Chevron have consistently increased dividends for 43 and 39 years respectively, and their investments in Guyana are expected to provide stable cash flows and long-term growth potential, making them ideal candidates for income-seeking investors.
See More
Guyana Oilfield Production Set to Double to 1.7 Million Barrels
- Production Growth Potential: The Stabroek oilfield in Guyana is projected to reach a production level of 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, nearly doubling current output, which will significantly enhance ExxonMobil and Chevron's market position and profitability.
- Significant Investment Returns: ExxonMobil's operations in Guyana generated $4.7 billion in profit last year, highlighting the strategic importance of the region's oil development as a buffer during geopolitical crises, attracting dividend-seeking investors.
- Low-Cost High-Yield: The breakeven cost for projects in the Stabroek oilfield is as low as $25 per barrel, well below the global average, providing ExxonMobil and Chevron with a competitive edge in volatile oil price environments and expected profit growth.
- Long-Term Strategic Positioning: ExxonMobil plans to invest over $60 billion in the Stabroek block, with production expected to reach 1.2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, demonstrating the company's long-term commitment and growth potential in the region.
See More
