2009 Fortune 500: Who’s No. 1

There is no competition among oil companies. The big oil companies represent oligopoly.

why xom should take care of someone else’s mess ? They have enough troubles themselves to take care of the business and their share holders !
When the american companies become a charity business ????

Leave Exxon Mobil out of the conversation. They are looking for oil, requires a lot of capital to look for it. If they find oil, they should be rewarded financially for the risk taken. Exxon did not cause the auto industries to decline. Wake up and smell the coffee you idiots

Why doesn’t Exxon Mobil create a plan to help bail out the auto industry? A large portion of the problem stems from the rise in gas prices 18 months ago, which put the brakes on truck and SUV sales and it has drifted down to the everyday auto. Americans driving patterns have changed and if there aren’t new auto sales …. there certainly aren’t going to be future profits for Exxon.
It would be great if they would step up to the plate, take the lead and use some of their profit for bailout, some for a research collaboration on alternative fuels and some for a foundation to assist low income people (seniors especially) with heating their homes.

The mess The banks have created means people left with debts after foreclosure will be paying that debt for 10-20 years before they can begin to save for a deposit.That will mean less sales in that time.they wont even think about a car or holiday so those industries will be slow to pick up

It seems amazing that USA companies like Exxon and Chevron can still compete in the global petroleum industry against a domestic headwind of increased taxation and political bullying. Why not view our domestic petroleum industry as a vital source of tax wealth and energy security? Where will we be if we disadvantage our domestic industry with a carbon tax? Do we really want to cannibalize our own to the benefit of OPEC and national oil companies?

What’s all this beef with oil companies? Oil makes life easier, safer and better for all people. You liberals wouldn’t be able to afford your MacBook if it wasn’t for the competition between oil companies. You wouldn’t be able to afford much actually.
As for the comments on Exxon, i am also appalled. You guys are all crying and whining. You sound like 5 year olds – entitled to everything that you don’t deserve. Is it a sin to be rich? In your guys eyes it is. So if your successful, it’s not fair for the people who do nothing and collect welfare checks, they deserve the money more than the geniuses that made the wealth.

Whoever is naive enough to say ‘Redistribute wealth’ should move to France. I’ve lived there, you will fit in fine with all the poor people. France is broke, the people are leaving in droves and avoiding the tax insanity – France will have no big business soon other than the govt. We headed for the same train wreck and have not learned from their mistakes, EU here we come. And you shouldnt be allowed to vote ever if you are on welfare.

My opinion of big companies has changed considerably this past couple of years, and intensifies daily with the continued exposure of outright greed in the form of exorbitant profits, salaries, and bonuses at the expense of the working class people and their labor. At some point this country, yes, even this world, is going to have to re-evaluate the capitalist system that redistributes the wealth of the masses to the pockets of the few elite of the Fortune 500, among others. We need to flip the model to one that distributes wealth among the working class, and the social institutions that all men, women, and children rely upon for the highest quality education, healthcare, housing, sustenance, and life. Why is this so hard to accept and move toward? Why do we hold so dearly on to our system of injustice and inequality while claiming to be a society built upon the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone?
- Dissentus

It truly amazes me how resentful people can be almost to the point of being haters for someone making a profit. No one holds a gun to your head and says buy from Exxon and if you dont want to purchase their gasoline that is part of the great country we live in. But check to see how much each gallon of gas is being taxed by the feds and check to see how much taxes is being paid in by Exxon to help defer us little guys from having to pony up more for the fat cats in congress!!!!!!!!!!

Still waiting on a check for Punitive Damages for the Vadez Spill. Boycott Exxon!!!

Just how evil is XOM. Pays taxes, employs bunches of Americans, they pay taxes. XOM also provides a needed resource and cuts down our dependence on foreign oil. Why do we waste our energy castigating the largest American company in the world who is benefiting all of us. I think the USA has a death wish.

How lovely! And the rich just keep on getting richer!

What do people have against a well run company? Try educating yourselves before you speak. Exxon and the other Oil companies have know control over oil prices. Compare Exxon’s profit margins (10%) to other companies on the list and then tell us how they are “gouging” the consumer. Wait until congress raises taxes on Oil companies and raises the gas tax. Then we’ll see how much everyone wants to be “weaned off of oil”. The ignorance is maddening!

I am glad to read that that anyone who understands Exxon makes a valid point about profits, creating wealth and sees that their margin is 11%, not stellar but still a big number. Its sad to see everyone against Exxon makes an emotional invalid point that sounds like a lot of crying, this is what handout nation is coming to… We would all have a lot more gas money if we werent being taxed on everything and only getting worse.

hip hip hooray for capitalism…obama take note……….

We should redistribute the wealth. Profitability should be illegal.

Ford and GM . . Gee I thought they were up to their drink holders in financial woe. If they are in the toilet (uh, I mean nearing bankruptcy) and they still at the top of the Fortune 500 I am REALLY scared now!

There is a Mobile Station near us and they have been selling regular for $2.09 for weeks, when all the other brand Stations were selling for $1.89- $1.99. Mobile is down right dirty. We go to the other side of town to get gas at Pride. I refuse to buy Mobile. They are to greedy.

Before you bash Exxon, take a look at all the company’s profits as a % of their revenues. For instance, in the top 100, the following companies were all at 10% or higher: GE, AT&T, IBM, P&G, J&J, Microsoft, Pfizer, PepsiCo, Cisco, Walt Disney; Intel, News Corp, Apple, Coca-Cola, Abbott, Phillip Morris, Emerson Electric, 3M, Occidental Petroleum, and Travelers. Exxon doesn’t deserve to be criticized just because they generate the highest revenue (which is how these companies are ranked. If you sort the top 100 by their profits as a % of revenues, Exxon falls to #19!

it`s incredible that Chevron gets the first post in that list and in Colombia is disappearing from the market due to the null and void work of its executives. It`s a paradox.

It is the democractic congress that is the problem not the oil companies. Also the state gasoline taxes using the guise of fixing highways that keep gas high. Case in point WA that has the highest gas tax in the nation whlie being run by a democractic state party and a crooked govenor.

Evil oil companies huh… are profits evil? Why don’t we tax them out of existence so that the Saudi National Oil Company can sell you energy.

Exxon-Mobil has big profits because they are a big company. A small company can’t compete with the nationalized oil companies of other countries.

Exxon has nothing to do with the commodities bubble but its easier to blame them. Do you think that that bubble might have had something to do with the devaluing of the dollar? Supply and demand? Turmoil in the Middle East.

I wonder why a gallon of gas is cheaper than a gallon of milk. Those evil “Big Milk” companies are gouging the American people. We should pass a windfall profits tax on Borden.

oil companies are just well dressed thiefs in business suits who only care about bleed you and i dry, so long as it profit it!

oil companies number 1 lets add insult to injury. Are we all crazy in this country.The rich get richer its a sad thing!!!!!

Why can’t Obama be proud of the United States of America? Does he not live here anymore? Instead of talking about “blame” all the time, he should be spreading the good news about America. And as to the loans that were made to people who could not afford them, the Democratic Congress pushed that and required them to be made. Not the banks fault. And to CNN, sorry you can’t agree with anything negative about Obama, but hta’s your mentality.

It’s hard for any company to compete with the public gouging oil companies.

They should be # 1 with inflated gas prices and stealing from the American people.

I am for them all the way! Create Wealth!!

how can they be no. 1 while we are paying so much at the pump? my station went up 8 cents in one day.

I understand accounting but I don’t see how the automakers can be on the fortune 500 when they teeter on the edge of bankruptcy. Right now my little one man business probably has more positive capital. The 500 has always been a weather guage for investment. Now I have to view it as a joke.

I say scr*w Exxon Mobil. They, along with other oil companies, are ripping off the American consumer. Exxon Mobil is a good place to start a boycott. DO NOT BUY ANY PRODUCTS FROM EXXON, MOBIL OR ESSO!!! There are plenty of other places to purchase petroleum products.

Exxon took the number 1 spot again because the fuel prices once again are going up. I don’t understand one day the gas is $1.59 per gallon and the next day $2.09 per gallon. Something is terribly wrong here and I think the government should do a full investigation including their associates abroad.

it is surprising that several of the top companies are members of the notorious list of companies that are wanting bailout money or are companies that keep raising their prices so they can, as they say’make ends meet’

sure they emerged as #1, not because of sales of their product but rather their gouging the credit card holders; never late ever, my credit line was reduced which put me over their percentage of outstanding credit so they could charge me an additional 10% credit charge!!!!!!!!!!

Big oil is making huge profits. They had better be careful if they let the price of oil go up again. They may be able to block the developement of alternative fuels in the US but China will pick up the slack and sell their electric cars here at a reasonable price. They love the fact we don’t move forward on developing these cars ourselves. Another step forward for China and another step backwards and loss of jobs for us.

This company does not deserve to get the regonition of being in the top 500. The gouge the consumer with high gas prices (especially in our poor economy today) and make are making huge profits. This is horrrible.

Highest gas prices in years and highest profits too — there’s a surprise.

I could understand if oil goes up gas goes up, but if oil goes down gas should too But instead it goes up?
I belive the oboma plan should had lower the cost of liveing and left the labor prices where they are until the nation got back on thier feet again, but maybe congress didn’t want him to do that,after all they do control his actions.

XOM makes a good kicking post, doesn’t it? Why? Jelousy or stupidity? I retired from XOM seventeen years ago having been a geologist, engineer and in management. They paid for our home, kids educations, medical and now retirement. In all my years working for Mobil (now XOM), I found them to be very professional and fair. No, they are not stupid and let the idiots of the world take advantage of them, but they are one hell of a well managed and operated company. Keep up the good work, XOM. Many of us depend on you and your fine people for keeping up the good work as you did back in my day.

We are going to need hydrocarbons for many years to come, so lets not get too tough with our big oil companies. Keep in mind that approx 85% of the oil in the world is owned by countries, not these oil companies. XOM has already indicated that they want to sell their USA service stations, so that should tell us something about their concern not only about profits in the USA, but perhaps concerned about stupid laws passed by our congress et al.

MODERATION IN ALL THINGS especially profiting at the expense of USA economic recovery! Exxon had best be careful that it doesn’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs! Put the country first and profit second PLEASE!!!!

Oil companies make the world go round and that will be true until we no longer depend on oil. One concern not covered a lot by the media is that we have some smaller oil companies who get oil from our nation and our gulf region. These companies need our support while oil is down because we do not want to see them bought out by foreign companies or for that matter, see our oil companies go out of business. Invest in America!

This tells me that Fortune 500 has no place for ethics. That means one less list for me to worry about.

Exxon is and should be a profitable company. The world (used to be americans only) cannot live without oil. Google cannot feed you, exxon actually can, -oil goes into everything, from food to transport. And to those who think Exxon is exploiting americans, -just remember that oil is still at par with bottled water, and cheaper than starbucks coffee, both of which are far easier to produce, transport and discover. Americans get exploited every day, and they deserve it because of their ignorance.

I don’t quite understand all of the negative comments around ExxonMobil here. In today’s economic climate, which has been soured by the downfall of companies whose investments have provided less than stellar returns, here is a company that is disciplined enough to stick to a long term plan and continually provides a strong return for its shareholders. I just don’t get how we can complain about the banking and auto industries for sucking up billions of dollars in bailouts and causing so many Americans to lose their jobs, and then turn right around to lambast ExxonMobil for making “too much” money. Rather, I wish that more corporations were like ExxonMobil, which continues to offer Americans high paying jobs (and even provides some of these “green collar” jobs that we keep hearing about) while supporting the taxpayers with billions in tax revenues. After all, isn’t that the whole point behind a capitalist system?

Big oil makes billions off the little people at the pumps, and the gutless government does nothing about excess profits.

Why would they no be on top, 46 Billion in profits last Year, looks as if they will try it again, just because they can. This is one industry that needs to be squelched, alternative fuel and Elec. cars Trucks, buses. They are coming, then Exxon can keep there oil

Oh, thank God that Exxon Mobil is back in the number one spot! I don’t know about everyone else, but I was worried there for a minute. We can all sleep soundly now knowing that this company can post record profits once again.

perfect example that you can still make lots of money with out a barrel being hundreds of dollars. get a clue.

The largest oil company in the world wants to keep Americans (and as many people around the globe as possible) dependent on oil at any cost. Join the boycott:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=155951420178

Of course! With the price of gas constantly rising while the price of oil is dropping… These greedy exectuives are impeeding the economic recovery.

XOM is a company that is very careful in making large long term and short term investments and it provides an excellent level of returns to its stockholders.
People with long term investment objectives have been able to put their children through college based on their holdings and returns of their investment in XOM.
There is a lot of “irrational” and “ignorant” comments about the company. Perhaps people are “jealous” that they have not been able to reap the benefits from this company.
To Anonymous: A company buying crude oil at premium prices will not be able to make the profits posted by XOM. Try to learn a little about the oil business and what “PREMIUM PRICES” mean.

The problem with Exxon is not the exploitation of the American system, but is the American system itself. We shouldn’t allow America’s largest corporation to ignore its obligations to pay off the settlements from the Exxon-Valdez crash, more than 20 years ago. Why wasn’t that mentioned as a possibility to spend their 300 billion dollar cash pool?

Exxon is a well run company who has forethought 10 years into the future. Get educated and get involved with good companies, make a good living and quit crying when you are left behind. This is America and capitalism, please quit crying about big companies that provide many good high paying jobs. There are many 100k jobs in Houston, come on down.

This is what happens when the President invades a country for you so you can get oil at premium prices.

Thank you for providing me with this handy list of companies to BOYCOTT in the coming year. I will continue to seek out and support small local business to meet my needs, and will continue to live my life free of automobiles, pharmaceuticals, genetically-modified junk food, greedy banks and insurers, and shopping sprees for irresponsibly-produced, toxic electronics, clothing and housewares.

Compare this list to the list of top campaign finance contributors to President Obama and most members of congress — government IS big business, and vice versa!

Vote with your dollars – always shop local!

It appears that Exxon is a well run company.

It is disgusting of all of you to even put this article in black and white. You people are greedy, dispicable and have absolutely no problem with screwing the average Joe. Shame on all you big top exec. Just remember KARMA will creep around because it always does.

What do you think of the No. 1 company on the Fortune 500 list this year? Should it be No. 1?

Have you worked for the company, or bought its products?

Has the recession affected your opinion of big companies?