Exxon Tops Apple in Market Cap Battle

By Paul Ausick Updated Apr 27, 9:04PM EDT · Published Jan 25, 12:21PM EST

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Exxon Mobil Logo

Shortly after noon today, oil & gas supermajor Exxon Mobil Corp. (NYSE: XOM) re-captured its position as the most valuable company in the world. Exxon’s market cap now totals $416.54 billion.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has fallen to second place with a market cap of $416.44 billion.

The two companies’ positions are likely to see-saw back and forth for the rest of the day. While the top ranking is essentially meaningless, there’s still a psychic power mixed in with being number 1.

Based on what the two companies actually do, there’s really no comparison. Exxon’s value is heavily tied to the amount of oil and gas it sits on and its ability to get it out of the ground at the right price and the right time. Value is rightly measured in years or even decades for companies like Exxon.

Apple’s value comes from being an innovator and thought leader. That is much more difficult ground to defend. A storehouse of good ideas is only valuable depending on the company’s ability to turn those ideas into unique and compelling products that command a premium price.

It’s much easier to knock-off a smartphone than it is an oil reservoir thousands of feet underground. Exxon can sit on its assets and those assets will only get more valuable. Apple can’t do that. It must re-create itself virtually every day.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Disclaimer: Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. ("EnergyX") has engaged 24/7 Wall St to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX's ongoing Regulation A offering. 24/7 Wall St has been paid in cash and may receive additional compensation. 24/7 Wall St and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX.

This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX's offering materials. EnergyX's Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/.

Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar results. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Market shortfall are forward‑looking estimates and are subject to substantial uncertainty. Investments in private placements, and start-up investments in particular, are long-term, illiquid, speculative and involve a high degree of risk and those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest in start-ups

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

About the Author Paul Ausick →

Paul Ausick has been writing for 247Wallst.com for more than a decade. He has written extensively on investing in the energy, defense, and technology sectors. In a previous life, he wrote technical documentation and managed a marketing communications group in Silicon Valley.

He has a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Chicago and now lives in Montana, where he fishes for trout in the summer and stays inside during the winter.