ExxonMobil vs Chevron, side by side
For US income investors these are the equivalent of Shell and BP - two integrated oil majors that explore, produce, refine and distribute fuel, and have paid dividends for decades. ExxonMobil is the larger, with a big chemicals arm and a reputation for backing long-term oil and gas projects. Chevron is a touch leaner and more focused, often praised for balance-sheet discipline. Both live and die by the oil price.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and value, and weakest on growth.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and value, and weakest on growth.
The numbers, side by side
| Measure |  ExxonMobil |  Chevron |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $155.44 | $196.83 |
| Market cap: The company's total value on the stock market - share price times the number of shares. Big = 'large-cap', small = 'small-cap'. | $644.29B | $392.01B |
| P/E: Price-to-earnings: the share price divided by yearly profit per share. Lower can mean cheaper; higher often means investors expect fast growth. | 26.4 | 18.9 |
| Div yield: Dividend yield: the yearly dividend as a percentage of the share price - roughly the income you'd earn just from dividends. | 2.6% | 3.7% |
| Revenue growth | 2.6% | 2.3% |
| 1Y: How much the share price has moved over the past year. | +43% | +34% |
More measures
| Forward P/E: Price-to-earnings: the share price divided by yearly profit per share. Lower can mean cheaper; higher often means investors expect fast growth. | 14.7 | 15.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Net margin | 7.8% | 5.9% |
| ROE | 9.9% | 6.6% |
| Beta: How bumpy the share price is versus the whole market. Above 1 swings more than the market; below 1 is calmer. It's about the ride, not whether it goes up or down. | 0.16 | 0.49 |
The bolder figure is simply the larger of the two - higher is not automatically good (a higher P/E means more expectation in the price; a higher beta means bigger swings).
How they differ
ExxonMobil is roughly 1.6x the size of Chevron by market value. On our factor screen Chevron currently screens higher on value. ExxonMobil trades on the higher P/E (26.4 vs 18.9), so more expectation is already built into its price; and Chevron currently yields more (3.7% vs 2.6%). Over the past year the share prices moved +43% (ExxonMobil) vs +34% (Chevron).
Descriptive only - how the two compare on today's data, never a verdict on either.
ExxonMobil, in one line
ExxonMobil is a global energy giant that finds, extracts, and refines the oil and gas that powers much of the world's transport and industry.
Read the full ExxonMobil explainer →Chevron, in one line
Chevron is a global energy giant that finds, produces, and refines the oil and gas that powers much of the world's transport and industry.
Read the full Chevron explainer →What to weigh
If dividend income matters to you, the yields differ (2.6% ExxonMobil vs 3.7% Chevron); and if sharp swings bother you, the betas differ (0.16 vs 0.49). These are facts to understand, not a verdict - read each full explainer before deciding anything.
Common questions
Are these dividends reliable?
They have long, proud payout records, but the income is cyclical - it rests on energy prices the companies do not control. A high yield in oil is a commodity-cycle yield, not a fixed rate, and payouts can be cut in a deep slump.
What is the long-term question hanging over both?
The energy transition. If the world uses less oil over time, demand and prices could fall - how fast is hotly debated, and how much each company invests in lower-carbon energy versus returning cash is a strategy choice to watch.