Activists want Exxon to go green

Article Excerpt

EXXON MOBIL CORP. $53 is a hold. The oil giant (New York symbol XOM; Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 4.2 billion; Market cap: $222.6 billion; Dividend yield: 6.9%; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; www.exxonmobil.com) has come under fire from two activist firms—D.E. Shaw Group and Engine No. 1. Exxon’s shares are down 13% in the past year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has depressed oil consumption and prices. The activists want the company to cut costs and focus only on projects that can break even if oil prices remain low. They also want Exxon to add renewable power projects, which would increase its appeal with institutional investors. They are increasingly focused on buying stocks with high ESG (environmental, social and governance) scores. The activists plan to launch a proxy battle to place their own nominees on Exxon’s board. However, they control less than 1% of the shares, so they would need to convince other big investors like Vanguard, State Street and BlackRock to support their plan. Exxon Mobil is a..