We recently published a list of S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats List: Sorted By Hedge Fund Sentiment. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) stands against other S&P 500 dividend aristocrats sorted by hedge fund sentiment.

Dividend Aristocrats are companies that have consistently increased their dividend payments for at least 25 consecutive years. While they are an integral part of the broader market, they have been overshadowed recently by the surge in technology stocks. In 2024, the Dividend Aristocrats Index rose by about 6%, trailing the broader market’s nearly 27% gain and NASDAQ’s impressive 35% return. However, the long-term appeal of dividend stocks remains strong. These companies have proved their mettle, continuing to reward shareholders even during challenging market conditions.

Historical data underscores the effectiveness of dividends in keeping pace with inflation and cushioning the effects of economic downturns over the past century. This makes them a crucial element of long-term investment strategies. Dividend payouts have remained relatively stable compared to earnings per share across multiple recessions. For instance, during the 2007–2009 global financial crisis, while the broader market dropped by 41% and earnings per share plunged by 92%, dividends per share declined by just 6%, according to a report by The Vanguard Group. This stability plays a key role in preserving income streams and enhancing total returns, which factor in both price appreciation and reinvested dividends.

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The report also emphasized the importance of diversifying investments across different sectors and regions to safeguard against industry-specific downturns and geopolitical uncertainties. A clear example of this occurred during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 when European banks, following regulatory directives, suspended dividend payments to account for potential loan losses. Although many banks were financially capable of maintaining payouts, most distributions were delayed until 2021, disrupting investors’ regular income. Adopting a diversified investment strategy not only helps stabilize cash flow but also strengthens overall returns, making portfolios more resilient to economic volatility.

That said, a company’s history of annual dividend increases, no matter how long, does not guarantee future payouts. The year 2020 served as a significant test of the stability of Dividend Aristocrats. When the pandemic hit in March, consumer demand plummeted across various industries, leading many companies to reduce or suspend their dividends. Some made this decision voluntarily, while others were required to do so as a condition of accepting stimulus funds. By the end of 2020, a total of 66 companies within the broader market had distributed less in dividends compared to 2019.

In recent years, dividend investing has gained popularity, particularly during periods of heightened market volatility. Investors have increasingly recognized the value of dividend stocks, steadily allocating capital to them to benefit from their long-term potential. Annual dividend payouts from the broader market have been rising, climbing from $420 billion in 2017 to $522 billion in 2021 and reaching a record $588.2 billion by 2023. This upward trend highlights the role of dividend stocks in generating both growth and income over time. In addition, dividends have been a significant driver of overall market returns, accounting for approximately 17% of the total return from 2013 to 2022, according to a Morgan Stanley report.

Our Methodology

Dividend aristocrats are the companies that have increased their dividends consistently over the past 25 consecutive years. We scanned Insider Monkey’s database of over 1,000 hedge funds and picked the top 10 dividend aristocrats, which means the stocks mentioned in this list are the most popular dividend aristocrats among the elite hedge funds in America. The list is ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in the companies.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is an American oil and gas company. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the company reported revenue of $83.4 billion, reflecting a 1.1% decrease compared to the same period the previous year. Since 2019, the company has realized $12.1 billion in Structural Cost Savings, surpassing its industry peers and effectively countering the impact of inflation and expansion. For the year, it achieved the highest return on capital employed in its sector at 12.7%, with a five-year average of 10.8%.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) remains a major force in the global fossil fuel sector while ramping up its investments in low-carbon energy solutions. Under its 2030 strategy, the company plans to dedicate up to $30 billion toward low-emission initiatives between 2025 and 2030. Moreover, it has collaborated with the Texas General Land Office to establish the largest offshore carbon dioxide storage site in the US Exxon Mobil is also advancing efforts to develop the world’s largest low-carbon hydrogen production facility, expected to produce up to 1 billion cubic feet of hydrogen daily. In the past 12 months, the stock has surged by over 6.5%.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) offers a quarterly dividend of $0.99 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.58%, as of February 23. In FY24, the company demonstrated solid financial strength, generating $55 billion in free cash flow—its third-highest total in the past 10 years. It reported $36.2 billion in total free cash flow for the year and distributed $16.7 billion to shareholders through dividends. Additionally, Exxon Mobil remains committed to its $20 billion annual share buyback program, which is set to continue through 2026. The company has also upheld a 42-year track record of consecutive dividend increases.

Overall, XOM ranks 2nd on our list of S&P 500 dividend aristocrats sorted by hedge fund sentiment. While we acknowledge the potential for XOM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than XOM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.