ExxonMobil (XOM +1.30%) was recently downgraded by Morgan Stanley. But with a company like Exxon that has a long history of a rock-solid balance sheet, excellent reserve replacement, and the ability to return enormous amounts of money to shareholders, what is holding back the world's largest oil company? In this video, Motley Fool energy analysts Joel South and Taylor Muckerman discuss Exxon's 2009 acquisition of XTO Energy, and tell investors how overpaying in an acquisition continues to hurt investors.
ExxonMobil's $40 Billion Mistake
By Joel South and Taylor Muckerman – Apr 13, 2013 at 9:00AM
NYSE: XOM
ExxonMobil
Market Cap
$501B
Today's Change
(1.30%) $1.53
Current Price
$119.29
Price as of November 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM ET
Why overpaying in an acquisition can cost you big.
About the Author
Joel is a University of Washington graduate and covers energy and materials for The Motley Fool. Be sure to follow The Motley Fool's energy and materials Twitter for all your energy and materials coverage.
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