Motley Fool Backs ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies on $55 Billion Cash Flow as Volatility Shakes Markets
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · May 12
Motley Fool Backs ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies on $55 Billion Cash Flow as Volatility Shakes Markets
2 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · May 12
$55 billion in ExxonMobil operating cash flow and $27.8 billion at TotalEnergies underpin The Motley Fool’s call for the two energy stocks as a defensive play in volatile markets.
Exxon’s appeal rests on balance-sheet strength: about $26 billion in 2025 free cash flow, $37.2 billion returned via dividends and buybacks, and an 11% net debt-to-capital ratio.
Mid-$30-per-barrel break-even costs give Exxon room to stay profitable even if crude falls, limiting the pressure to cut spending or raise capital in a downturn.
TotalEnergies adds a second angle—income plus diversification—with a 3.40 euro-per-share dividend, roughly $7.5 billion in buybacks, and LNG, power and renewables expanding alongside oil and gas.
The recommendation reflects a broader rotation toward companies with hard cash flow and real-asset exposure as high valuations, elevated rates and geopolitical tension unsettle investors.
Are energy stocks a true safe haven or a high-risk bet on prolonged global instability?
Does TotalEnergies' pivot from U.S. wind to fossil fuels sabotage its long-term climate goals?
With the Strait of Hormuz closed, are oil giants facing a profit boom or an unprecedented supply chain nightmare?