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WMB vs. XOM: Williams vs. ExxonMobil Stock Comparison

How do Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though WMB is classified under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation while XOM falls under Integrated Oil & Gas.

Company profile comparison for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
Profile ItemWMBXOM
NameThe Williams Companies, Inc.ExxonMobil Holdings Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorEnergyEnergy
GICS Industry GroupEnergyEnergy
GICS IndustryOil, Gas & Consumable FuelsOil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-IndustryOil & Gas Storage & TransportationIntegrated Oil & Gas
Market Capitalization80.11 billion USD676.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 31, 1981January 2, 1962
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WMB
XOM
GSPC
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
Total Return (1Y)14.81%44.48%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)28.70%20.83%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)23.72%24.20%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WMB
XOM
GSPC
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.38%27.17%
Beta (5Y)0.650.19
Max Drawdown (5Y)-23.01%-20.51%
Avg. Volume (3M)7.88M13.57M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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WMB and XOM are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.401.48
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.562.17

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Williams (WMB) at 18.31% and ExxonMobil (XOM) at 15.53% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

WMB

Energy industry group

18.31%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
WMB
18.31%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%

XOM

Energy industry group

15.53%

Max
53.85%
Q3
24.79%
XOM
15.53%
Median
12.85%
Q1
2.03%
Min
-29.09%
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Williams (WMB) at 24.66% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of ExxonMobil (XOM) at 10.46%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

WMB

Energy industry group

24.66%

Max
56.92%
WMB
24.66%
Q3
22.92%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%

XOM

Energy industry group

10.46%

Max
56.92%
Q3
22.92%
XOM
10.46%
Median
10.10%
Q1
0.07%
Min
-27.38%
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Williams (WMB) at 32.69% and ExxonMobil (XOM) at 16.98% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

WMB

Energy industry group

32.69%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
WMB
32.69%
Median
18.73%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%

XOM

Energy industry group

16.98%

Max
71.31%
Q3
33.75%
Median
18.73%
XOM
16.98%
Q1
6.94%
Min
-24.52%
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
ROE (TTM)18.31%15.53%
ROA (TTM)4.59%6.75%
Net Margin (TTM)24.66%10.46%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.69%16.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)63.05%29.81%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Williams (WMB) at 13.78% and ExxonMobil (XOM) at -4.52% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Williams (WMB) at 17.58% and ExxonMobil (XOM) at -14.54% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.78%-4.52%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.91%-6.69%
EPS Growth (YoY)17.58%-14.54%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.62%-20.35%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

ExxonMobil (XOM) at 1.19 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Williams (WMB) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMB.

WMB

Energy industry group

0.75

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
Q1
0.88
WMB
0.75
Min
0.24

XOM

Energy industry group

1.19

Max
3.64
Q3
2.21
Median
1.41
XOM
1.19
Q1
0.88
Min
0.24
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

ExxonMobil (XOM) at 0.13 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while Williams (WMB) at 1.58 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

WMB

Energy industry group

1.58

Max
1.75
WMB
1.58
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
Min
0.00

XOM

Energy industry group

0.13

Max
1.75
Q3
0.93
Median
0.54
Q1
0.30
XOM
0.13
Min
0.00
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.751.19
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.580.13
Net Debt / EBITDA4.580.28

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Williams (WMB) at 3.23% and ExxonMobil (XOM) at 2.49% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

WMB

Energy industry group

3.23%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
WMB
3.23%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

XOM

Energy industry group

2.49%

Max
8.57%
Q3
3.58%
XOM
2.49%
Median
1.71%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ExxonMobil (XOM) at 42.39% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Williams (WMB) at 81.69% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

WMB

Energy industry group

81.69%

Max
133.24%
WMB
81.69%
Q3
53.31%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

XOM

Energy industry group

42.39%

Max
133.24%
Q3
53.31%
XOM
42.39%
Median
25.24%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.23%2.49%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)81.69%42.39%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

ExxonMobil (XOM) at 17.06 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 25.23 sits in the richer quartile — WMB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

WMB

Energy industry group

25.23

Max
39.54
WMB
25.23
Q3
21.72
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99

XOM

Energy industry group

17.06

Max
39.54
Q3
21.72
XOM
17.06
Median
12.19
Q1
7.71
Min
2.99
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

ExxonMobil (XOM) at 1.74 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 6.32 clears its benchmark range — WMB looks notably rich on sales.

WMB

Energy industry group

6.32

WMB
6.32
Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00

XOM

Energy industry group

1.74

Max
5.40
Q3
2.85
XOM
1.74
Median
1.69
Q1
0.88
Min
0.00
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: ExxonMobil (XOM) at 2.55 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Williams (WMB) at 5.11 prices even higher, above its industry range.

WMB

Energy industry group

5.11

WMB
5.11
Max
4.21
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01

XOM

Energy industry group

2.55

Max
4.21
XOM
2.55
Q3
2.38
Median
1.51
Q1
1.08
Min
0.01
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Williams (WMB) vs. ExxonMobil (XOM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Williams (WMB) and ExxonMobil (XOM)
MetricWMBXOM
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.2317.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.321.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.112.55
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-3.56%4.19%