Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) Quarterly Valuation
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company.  By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a specific look at how Exxon Mobil Corporation fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Exxon Mobil Corporation is a manufacturer and marketer of commodity petrochemicals, including olefins, aromatics, polyethylene and polypropylene plastics and a range of specialty products. The Company has a number of divisions and affiliates with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Esso or Mobil. Divisions and affiliated companies of the Company operate or market products in the United States and other countries of the world. Their principal business is energy, involving exploration for, and production of, crude oil and natural gas, manufacture of petroleum products and transportation and sale of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products. In January 2012, Apache Corporation acquired its Mobil North Sea Limited assets, including the Beryl field and related properties. In April 2013, BNK Petroleum (US) Inc. sold Tishomingo Field, Oklahoma assets other than the Caney and upper Sycamore formations to XTO Energy Inc., a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 6/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years – PASS
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – PASS
- Earnings Growth – earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3 over the last 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end of period – PASS
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 – PASS
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 – PASS
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 3/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 – FAIL
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 – FAIL
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – PASS
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend – PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago – PASS
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $96.27 |
| MG Value | $119.08 |
| MG Opinion | Fairly Valued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $113.43 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $66.49 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 1.90% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | -$26.18 |
| PEmg | 12.31 |
| Current Ratio | 0.83 |
| PB Ratio | 2.40 |
Balance Sheet – 12/31/2013
| Current Assets | $59,308,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $71,724,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $6,891,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $346,808,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $7,522,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $172,805,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 4,335,000,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2013 | $7.37 |
| 2012 | $9.70 |
| 2011 | $8.42 |
| 2010 | $6.22 |
| 2009 | $3.99 |
| 2008 | $8.78 |
| 2007 | $7.28 |
| 2006 | $6.62 |
| 2005 | $5.71 |
| 2004 | $3.89 |
| 2003 | $3.15 |
| 2002 | $1.62 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGrahamÂ
| 2013 | $7.82 |
| 2012 | $7.84 |
| 2011 | $6.92 |
| 2010 | $6.31 |
| 2009 | $6.39 |
| 2008 | $7.21 |
Dividend History
XOM Dividend data by YCharts
Conclusion:
Exxon Mobil Corporation is suitable for the Defensive Investor after having passed every one of the investor type’s requirements except for the current ratio. Â The company is then also suitable for the Enterprising Investor by default, despite having a high level of debt relative to the company’s current assets. Â As a result, value investors seeking to follow the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company and the potential investment opportunity. Â This research should also include a review of ModernGraham’s valuation of Chevron Corporation (CVX) and a list of 5 Undervalued Companies for the Defensive Investor. Â From a valuation perspective, the company appears to be fairly valued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $6.39 in 2009 to $7.82 for 2013. Â This level of growth supports the market’s current implied estimate of earnings growth of 1.9%, leading the ModernGraham valuation model to return an estimate of intrinsic value that falls within a margin of safety when compared to the current price.
The next part of the analysis is up to individual investors, and requires discussion of the company’s prospects.  What do you think?  What value would you put on Exxon Mobil (XOM)?  Where do you see the company going in the future?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
If you like our valuations, why not check out ModernGraham Stocks & Screens?  It’s a great way to review the valuations while screening for things like low PE ratio, undervalued companies, etc.!
Disclaimer: Â The author did not hold a position in Exxon Mobil (XOM) or any of the other companies listed in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.
Logo taken from the Wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
