Dow Preview: ExxonMobil

In today's edition, Joel discusses ExxonMobil and what to watch for tomorrow when the company announces second-quarter earnings. Exxon is the first large integrated oil company to report, and the company will need oil revenues to offset its dismal natural gas segment. With a 50/50 split between oil and gas production, Exxon is more susceptible to poor natural gas prices than its Dow competitor, Chevron, so be sure to follow the effects that XTO (Exxon's natural gas arm) will have on the bottom line tomorrow.

Decreasing oil prices had an adverse effect on all exploration and production companies this past quarter, but the price of crude has been increasing over the past month, with international prices now inching over the century mark. With that said, we have have been on the the lookout for some intriguing energy plays that are set to soar again as oil prices increase. Be sure to check out The Motley Fool's "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." you can get free access to this special report by clicking here. Be sure not to miss out on this excellent report!