10 Most Profitable Blue Chip Stocks to Buy Now

7. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Net Profit Margin: 10.34%

Last year’s net income: $33.46 billion

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is engaged in the exploration, production, refining, and marketing of oil and natural gas, as well as other petroleum products and petrochemicals. The company’s Upstream segment focuses on oil and gas exploration and production, the Product Solutions segment encompasses refining and chemical manufacturing, while the Low Carbon Solutions segment is developing lower-emission technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen. XOM is a global leader as its operations span six continents, with significant activity in the US, Guyana, and Brazil.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) delivered strong financial performance in 2024, achieving earnings of $34 billion, its third-highest result in a decade despite softer market conditions, making it one of the most profitable stocks in the world. The company generated $55 billion in cash flow from operations and delivered an industry-leading 11% average return on capital employed over five years. Operationally, XOM achieved record production from its advantaged assets and the highest liquids production in over 40 years. In the Permian Basin, the company sees synergies of more than $3 billion per year from its combined Pioneer assets, with production expected to grow from 1.5 million oil-equivalent barrels per day to 2.3 million barrels per day by 2030.

Looking ahead, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has outlined ambitious growth plans, projecting $20 billion more in earnings and $30 billion more in cash flow by 2030 on a constant price and margin basis. The company is focusing on developing new technology-driven businesses, such as Proxxima products and carbon materials, which create opportunities to expand beyond traditional fuels and chemicals into higher-growth, higher-margin markets decoupled from commodity price fluctuations. In its carbon capture business, the company contracted more CO2 for transport and storage than any other company, at 6.7 million tons per year, and is the only company with an end-to-end system capable of capturing, transporting, and storing carbon emissions.