What Makes Exxon (XOM) a Better Dividend Play than ConocoPhillips (COP)?
Oil prices have fallen more than 20% in the past couple of months, but it appeared that dividend-seeking investors preferred integrated oil giant ExxonMobil over ConocoPhillips.
Why?
There may be a few reasons. First, Exxon offers them a more diversified yet balanced portfolio. Exxon is one of the largest and most conservative but highly integrated energy companies in the world. Being integrated, Exxon's business spans from the upstream drilling space to the downstream refining and chemicals sector. With exposure to both the upstream and downstream segments, the company has been able to successfully mitigate a number of risks. Oil is a key input on the chemical and refining side, meaning low oil prices are a benefit to this piece of Exxon's operation.
Second, it’s true that oil prices dictate the top and bottom lines for Exxon. But the benefit of low oil prices derived from the downstream portion business has helped soften the blow of energy downturns. A presence across the value chain also should enable Exxon to bounce back at a faster rate compared to its peers when tides turn in favor of the industry.
Third, Exxon's conservative approach has helped the company keep it’s external borrowings less than 10% in the overall capital structure. Long-term focus and a resilient business strategy has helped the oil giant successfully mitigate oil price volatility.
This is how Exxon has managed to increase its dividend for 36 consecutive years, including through the deep oil downturn starting mid-2014, a feat even its peers appreciate.
XOM in upward trend: price rose above 50-day moving average on September 08, 2025
XOM moved above its 50-day moving average on September 08, 2025 date and that indicates a change from a downward trend to an upward trend. In of 45 similar past instances, the stock price increased further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
Technical Analysis (Indicators)
Bullish Trend Analysis
The Momentum Indicator moved above the 0 level on September 17, 2025. You may want to consider a long position or call options on XOM as a result. In of 93 past instances where the momentum indicator moved above 0, the stock continued to climb. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) for XOM just turned positive on September 16, 2025. Looking at past instances where XOM's MACD turned positive, the stock continued to rise in of 47 cases over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The 10-day moving average for XOM crossed bullishly above the 50-day moving average on August 28, 2025. This indicates that the trend has shifted higher and could be considered a buy signal. In of 14 past instances when the 10-day crossed above the 50-day, the stock continued to move higher over the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
Following a 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where XOM advanced for three days, in of 352 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The Aroon Indicator entered an Uptrend today. In of 299 cases where XOM Aroon's Indicator entered an Uptrend, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued Uptrend are .
Bearish Trend Analysis
The 10-day RSI Indicator for XOM moved out of overbought territory on September 03, 2025. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 44 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In of the 44 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at .
The Stochastic Oscillator entered the overbought zone. Expect a price pull-back in the foreseeable future.
XOM broke above its upper Bollinger Band on August 21, 2025. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The Tickeron Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating low risk on high returns. The average Profit vs. Risk Rating rating for the industry is 56, placing this stock better than average.
The Tickeron PE Growth Rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), pointing to outstanding earnings growth. The PE Growth rating is based on a comparative analysis of stock PE ratio increase over the last 12 months compared against S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Price Growth Rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating steady price growth. XOM’s price grows at a higher rate over the last 12 months as compared to S&P 500 index constituents.
The Tickeron Seasonality Score of (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is fair valued in the industry. The Tickeron Seasonality score describes the variance of predictable price changes around the same period every calendar year. These changes can be tied to a specific month, quarter, holiday or vacation period, as well as a meteorological or growing season.
The Tickeron SMR rating for this company is (best 1 - 100 worst), indicating strong sales and a profitable business model. SMR (Sales, Margin, Return on Equity) rating is based on comparative analysis of weighted Sales, Income Margin and Return on Equity values compared against S&P 500 index constituents. The weighted SMR value is a proprietary formula developed by Tickeron and represents an overall profitability measure for a stock.
The Tickeron Valuation Rating of (best 1 - 100 worst) indicates that the company is slightly overvalued in the industry. This rating compares market capitalization estimated by our proprietary formula with the current market capitalization. This rating is based on the following metrics, as compared to industry averages: P/B Ratio (1.872) is normal, around the industry mean (1.208). P/E Ratio (16.376) is within average values for comparable stocks, (23.828). Projected Growth (PEG Ratio) (2.658) is also within normal values, averaging (1.857). Dividend Yield (0.034) settles around the average of (0.068) among similar stocks. P/S Ratio (1.538) is also within normal values, averaging (0.946).
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General Information
a distributer of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products
Industry IntegratedOil
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