Exxon Increases Spending, but High-Quality Portfolio and Flexibility Mitigate Risk
Exxon is departing from industry trends by increasing spending to deliver $20 billion in earnings growth by 2030. Although the higher spending might sound alarming given the industry’s history of pursuing growth at the expense of returns, Exxon’s differentiated portfolio should enable it to do so while maintaining capital discipline and delivering returns. Its differentiated Guyana position and enlarged Permian position remain at the core of its portfolio, which offers capital-efficient volume and earnings growth. Meanwhile, the breadth of its downstream businesses opens new low-carbon business opportunities.