Skip to content
All news
General

Exxon Mobil Has Nearly Doubled the S&P 500 Since Dow Removal

Since its removal from the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2020, Exxon Mobil (XOM) has outperformed the S&P 500 by nearly double. The strong performance is attributed to a transformation led by CEO Darren Woods starting in 2018, focusing on cost cuts and capital discipline.

June 7, 2026
2 min read
Source: 24/7 Wall St.
Share:

Key Numbers

return vs sp500
nearly double

Ten years ago, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) was an aging supermajor coasting on legacy assets and a sleepy dividend. The decade that followed was brutal before it got good. CEO Darren Woods kicked off a transformation in 2018 built around advantaged barrels, cost cuts, and capital discipline. Then came the pandemic, which gutted crude demand and ...

Details

In August 2020, Exxon Mobil was removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replaced by Salesforce. The move was a shock for the company, long a symbol of American industrial might. Since then, however, Exxon's stock has beaten the S&P 500 by nearly double, according to 24/7 Wall St.

Context

Woods' strategy focused on improving efficiency, cutting costs, and concentrating on high-quality assets. The company also benefited from the post-pandemic rise in oil prices.

What This Means for Investors

Exxon's story shows that traditional companies can reinvent themselves even in the face of major challenges. However, investors should monitor energy sector developments and future regulatory changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Exxon Mobil was removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average in August 2020.

Found this useful? Share it

Share:
This article was rewritten in Wrqti's editorial style based on information from the original source above. Content is informational only — not investment advice.