Top 5 Global Oil Stocks by Market Cap

Oil has long been, arguably, the most popular commodity on the market, as investors and traders alike look to hop in on the fossil fuel. Though most people simply think of gasoline when they hear the term crude oil, this commodity is actually a vital part of our everyday lives. As a result, companies that are involved in the exploration, production, and selling of crude oil also play a critical role in the market. For those who have a bullish outlook on oil prices and the oil industry, we outline five of the biggest oil companies by market cap [for more gold news and analysis subscribe to our free newsletter].

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM)

Quick Stats as of (10/5/2012)

  • Market Cap: $427 billion
  • EPS: 9.49
  • Avg Vol: 12.8 million
  • Beta: 0.83

This energy giant is one of the largest and most diversified firms in the industry. XOM is home to a market cap of $426 billion and trades over 12 million times a day. The Texas-based company has operations in nearly every continent on the globe and is focused on the exploration and production of crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products and other energy commodities. Since taking a big hit in 2010, this stock has gained more than 40% and is currently up 6.45% year-to-date. In addition, XOM boasts an EPS of 9.49 and a dividend yield of 2.5%.

PetroChina Co. Ltd. (PTR)

Quick Stats as of (10/5/2012)

  • Market Cap: $236 billion
  • EPS: 11.20
  • Avg Vol: 145,000
  • Beta: 0.86

Headquartered in Beijing, this company is one of the top picks among investors when it comes to global oil exposure. PetroChina focuses on producing and selling oil and gas in its home country, and since being founded in 1988 has grown to a market cap of  more than $236 billion. PTR’s record high came in 2007, when shares traded at $255.06. Since then, however, the stock has lost nearly half of its value. 2012 has also proven to be a tough year for PetroChina, but its EPS of 11.20 and annual dividend yield of 3.6% may persuade some investors to take a closer look [see also Crude Oil Guide: Brent Vs. WTI, What’s The Difference?].

Chevron Corporation. (CVX)

Quick Stats as of (10/5/2012)

  • Market Cap: $231 billion
  • EPS: 13.34
  • Avg Vol: 5.8 million
  • Beta: 1.08

With a total market cap of nearly $231 billion, CVX comes in third place on the list, making it one of the largest and most popular oil producers in the U.S.. The company is split into two segments of operation: upstream and downstream. The upstream portion focuses on the discovery and extraction of crude oil and natural gas while the downstream segment refines and markets the fossil fuels. CVX has a current dividend yield of 3.1% for its shareholders and a rather appealing EPS of 13.43.

Petrobras (PBR)

Quick Stats as of (10/5/2012)

  • Market Cap: $148 billion
  • EPS: 1.46
  • Avg Vol: 13.7
  • Beta: 1.76

Brazil’s Petrobras is one of the biggest names in oil, as the global behemoth has its roots firmly planted in the industry. Based in Rio de Janeiro, the company is known for their oil and gas exploration as well as refining and transportation. A massive cash pile and strong financials back this stock, as PBR has been fighting its way higher in recent weeks. The firm pays out a dividend of 1.1% and represents one of the most dominant companies in the Southern Hemisphere.

BP plc (BP)

Quick Stats as of (10/5/2012)

  • Market Cap: $134 billion
  • EPS: 5.38
  • Avg Vol: 5.1 million
  • Beta: 2.03

BP is a well-known oil and gas producer throughout the world. Unfortunately, many people still associate the company with the Deepwater Horizon Spill, the most costly of its kind in the U.S., which destroyed the stock price. Although BP has made significant headway since then, the stock has struggled thus far in 2012 and is still a long ways off of its pre-spill highs. BP is sitting at a P/E ratio of 7.85, and rather low EPS of 5.38 in comparison to other companies on this list. The stock does, however, provide its shareholders with a juicy dividend yield of 4.50% [see also Examining Crude Oil’s Massive Dip].

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Disclosure: No positions at time of writing.

About Daniela Pylypczak

Daniela Pylypczak-Wasylyszyn is a regular contributor to CommodityHQ.com, where she primarily focuses on commodity producers equities. She is also an analyst for ETFdb.com, where she contributes articles and analysis each week. Since joining the team in 2011, Daniela has quickly grown to be one of the most widely-followed authors in the industry. Her articles are syndicated in a number of online publications, including Financial Advisor Magazine, Fidelity.com, and Yahoo! Finance. Daniela is also a contributor for TraderHQ.com and Dividend.com. Daniela graduated from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics.
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Commodity HQ is not an investment advisor, and any content published by Commodity HQ does not constitute individual investment advice. The opinions offered herein are not personalized recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities or investment assets. Read the full disclaimer here.

14 Responses to “Top 5 Global Oil Stocks by Market Cap”

  1. [...] are not possible, investors have turned towards equities to access this useful and potentially lucrative segment of the energy market. And thanks to the development of the exchange-traded fund industry, investors now have several [...]

  2. [...] Arabia has long been known as the world’s most dominant producer of crude oil, as the Middle East is rich with deposits of this fossil fuel. But the growth and rapid development [...]

  3. [...] Arabia has long been known as the world’s most dominant producer of crude oil, as the Middle East is rich with deposits of this fossil fuel. But the growth and rapid development [...]

  4. [...] Arabia has long been known as the world’s most dominant producer of crude oil, as the Middle East is rich with deposits of this fossil fuel. But the growth and rapid [...]

  5. [...] you might even think of cornstarch or corn-based food additives, or perhaps those who follow the oil and gas news might think of ethanol. However, recent years have seen this dinner staple’s uses expand [...]

  6. [...] There are many different ways for investors to capitalize on the boom in fracking. The easiest way is to simply purchase stock in companies that hold stakes in major U.S. shale plays, including companies like Continental Resources (CLR), Rosetta Resources (ROSE) and Encana (ECA), which all have stakes in major fracking areas [see also Top 5 Global Oil Stocks By Market Cap]. [...]

  7. [...] Mobil Corporation (XOM): One of the largest and safest energy companies in the world for investors. In 2009, the company purchased XTO for $31 billion and became the [...]

  8. [...] Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM): One of the largest and safest energy companies in the world for investors. In 2009, the company purchased XTO for $31 billion and became the [...]

  9. [...] like Petrobras (PBR) are going to have their work cut out exploiting this field. Petrobras has already earmarked over $200 billion in development spending, and producers are going to have to [...]

  10. [...] Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund. Most of its revenue comes from oil production generated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (as well as other oil and gas companies), which is [...]

  11. [...] Given the importance of iron ore to Brazil's economy, and the fact that it produces nearly 80% of the country's iron ore, Vale SA (NYSE:VALE) is a logical stock to consider for playing Brazil's commodity economy. For similar reasons, including its sizable claims to those offshore oil and gas discoveries, Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (NYSE:PBR) is also well worth a look. Investors should note, though, that there is considerably more involvement from the Brazilian government in these companies' businesses than investors may want – the Brazilian government has in the past forced through management changes, new tariffs and taxes, and other policy mandates to arrive at socially/politically desirable goals [see also Top 5 Global Oil Stocks by Market Cap]. [...]

  12. [...] Egypt itself is not among the top producers in the world, it still accounts for a fair amount of oil, and its neighbors account for even more. [...]

  13. [...] see, arguably, its most publicized week. The next five days will feature earnings from some of the biggest oil firms in the world, with a few other companies sprinkled in. Investors will be especially keen to see how [...]

  14. [...] For those looking to use the ETF wrapper to gain exposure to different industries in the U.S. energy sector, there are several options. iShares offers a number of compelling ETFs, such as the Dow Jones U.S. Energy Sector Index Fund (IYE), which offers top exposure to Exxon, Chevron and other integrated energy leaders. The Dow Jones U.S. Oil & Gas Exploration & Production Index Fund (IEO) offers purer exposure to the benefits of fracking, as it tracks domestic oil and gas producers and explorers. Top holdings include Devon (DVN), Occidental Petroleum (OXY), Anadarko (APC), Apache Corp (APA) and EOG Resources (EOG) [see also Top 5 Global Oil Stocks by Market Cap]. [...]

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