That being said, Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) has remained one of my top picks in this sector for some time now due in large part to the company's position as a global, diversified leader in the oil & gas space. Exxon controls companies along its value creation chain (both upstream and downstream), which allows Exxon to turn a profit in nearly any price environment.
The company's moat is wide, and will get even wider, in my opinion, following news the company expects to invest $50 billion U.S. over the next 10 years in capital spending.
This money is expected to provide a significant amount of growth and efficiency generation in the years to come, and I remain bullish on the long-term outcomes related to said investment. With a yield of more than 3.5%, Exxon's status as a dividend king will continue moving forward.Invest wisely, my friends.