(Houston)

Many investors may still be shy about buying oil companies. After all, oil had a major fallout jut a few years ago and many factors, like green energy, seem to be playing against the future of oil. Accordingly, most oil companies are playing into this logic by cutting back on spending and boosting sources of alternative energy, but not Exxon. The company is boosting R&D spending and trying to grow its gas and oil output counter to all its rivals. Its logic is that demand for gas and oil is forecasted to grow considerably until 2030 as the world’s middle class surges to 5 bn people (versus 3 bn today). One fund manager comments on Exxon that “We think Exxon’s investment opportunities are world-class and that the best time to invest is when everyone else is retrenching”.

FINSUM: Exxon is trying to keep doing what it does best—produce oil. It is interesting they are taking a different approach to the market, but that means they are probably going to have high beta. If you believe in the strategy, it is an interesting buy.