What is Exxon Mobil’s (XOM) Economic Moat, and is it Widening or Narrowing?

What happened: ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) closed at $164.01 on October 2, up 43.62% over twelve months, as analysis examined whether its cost-based economic moat is widening or narrowing. Key numbers: Revenue $361.06 billion over the past twelve months. Debt $42.37 billion against $10.59 billion cash, debt to equity 15.92%. Why it matters: The content argues Exxon's moat controls costs rather than prices, letting it survive low oil prices better than competitors but not create high ones. Low leverage is described as what lets it buy assets during downturns when weaker rivals are selling.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) closed at $164.01 on October 2, up 43.62% over twelve months, as analysis examined whether its cost-based economic moat is widening or narrowing.

The content argues Exxon's moat controls costs rather than prices, letting it survive low oil prices better than competitors but not create high ones. Low leverage is described as what lets it buy assets during downturns when weaker rivals are selling.