IMO
Imperial Oil Limited
Oil & Gas Integrated
Market Cap$66.11B
5Y Perf.+751.2%
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Stock Comparison
IMO vs XOM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Oil & Gas Integrated
Market Cap$656.38B
5Y Perf.+240.6%
IMO vs XOM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IMO | XOM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Integrated | Oil & Gas Integrated |
| Market Cap | $66.11B | $656.38B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $47.04B | $323.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3.27B | $28.84B |
| Gross Margin | 21.2% | 21.7% |
| Operating Margin | 9.0% | 10.5% |
| Forward P/E | 15.8x | 15.6x |
| Total Debt | $4.23B | $43.54B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.14B | $10.68B |
IMO vs XOM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IMO
XOM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 100 | 851.2 | +751.2% |
| Exxon Mobil Corpora… (XOM) | 100 | 340.6 | +240.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IMO vs XOM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IMO leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. Exxon Mobil Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IMO
Imperial Oil Limited
The Growth Play
IMO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -3.7%, EPS growth -28.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -6.3%
- 360.8% 10Y total return vs XOM's 115.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.25, Low D/E 19.0%, current ratio 1.27x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation
The Income Pick
XOM is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 26 yrs, beta -0.15, yield 2.6%
- Lower P/E (15.6x vs 15.8x)
- 8.9% margin vs IMO's 6.9%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IMO | -3.7% revenue growth vs XOM's -4.5% |
| Value | XOM | Lower P/E (15.6x vs 15.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | XOM | 8.9% margin vs IMO's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | XOM | Lower D/E ratio (16.3% vs 19.0%) |
| Dividends | IMO | 1.5% yield, 27-year raise streak, vs XOM's 2.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | IMO | +99.6% vs XOM's +53.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IMO | 8.1% ROA vs XOM's 6.4%, ROIC 12.3% vs 8.6% |
IMO vs XOM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
IMO vs XOM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIMOLAGGINGXOM
XOMExxon Mobil Corporati…
2leads
IMOImperial Oil Limited
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs XOMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
XOM4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
XOM4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IMO7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IMO6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
XOM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
XOM is the larger business by revenue, generating $323.9B annually — 6.9x IMO's $47.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.9% (XOM) to 6.9% (IMO). On growth, IMO holds the edge at +6.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $47.0B | $323.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.8B | $59.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3.3B | $28.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.7B | $23.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.2% | +21.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | +10.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +8.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | +7.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.7% | -1.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -57.8% | -11.0% |
XOM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
XOM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.1x trailing earnings, XOM trades at a 17% valuation discount to IMO's 28.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, XOM's 11.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than IMO's 13.6x.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $66.1B | $656.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $68.4B | $689.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.96x | 23.12x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.80x | 15.64x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.65x | 11.50x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.92x | 2.03x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.10x | 2.50x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.17x | 27.80x |
XOM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IMO leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IMO delivers a 14.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $11 for XOM. XOM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IMO's 0.19x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IMO scores 5/9 vs XOM's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.7% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.1% | +6.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.3% | +8.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +8.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.1B | $32.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.1B | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.2B | $43.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 69.44x |
IMO leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IMO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IMO five years ago would be worth $46,129 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $28,473 for XOM. Over the past 12 months, IMO leads with a +99.6% total return vs XOM's +53.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IMO at 43.7% vs XOM's 15.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +50.0% | +27.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +99.6% | +53.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +197.0% | +53.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +361.3% | +184.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +360.8% | +115.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +43.7% | +15.3% |
IMO leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — IMO and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
XOM is the less volatile stock with a -0.15 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IMO's 0.25 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IMO currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs XOM's 87.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.25x | -0.15x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $134.32 | $176.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $66.62 | $101.19 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +87.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.2 | 51.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 682K | 18.8M |
Evenly matched — IMO and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — IMO and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IMO as "Hold" and XOM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 3.6% upside for XOM (target: $160) vs -66.2% for IMO (target: $45). For income investors, XOM offers the higher dividend yield at 2.58% vs IMO's 1.53%.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $44.99 | $160.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 55 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +2.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 27 | 26 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.78 | $4.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.6% | +3.1% |
Evenly matched — IMO and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
XOM leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). IMO leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallImperial Oil Limited (IMO)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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IMO vs XOM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IMO or XOM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is the stronger pick with -3.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the better valuation at 23. 1x trailing P/E (15. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) a "Hold" — based on 20 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — IMO or XOM?
On trailing P/E, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the cheapest at 23.
1x versus Imperial Oil Limited at 28. 0x. On forward P/E, Exxon Mobil Corporation is actually cheaper at 15. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IMO or XOM?
Over the past 5 years, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) delivered a total return of +361.
3%, compared to +184. 7% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IMO returned +360. 8% versus XOM's +115. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — IMO or XOM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
15β versus Imperial Oil Limited's 0. 25β — meaning IMO is approximately -269% more volatile than XOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 19% for Imperial Oil Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — IMO or XOM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is pulling ahead at -3.
7% versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Exxon Mobil Corporation grew EPS -14. 5% year-over-year, compared to -28. 2% for Imperial Oil Limited. Over a 3-year CAGR, IMO leads at -6. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — IMO or XOM?
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
9% net margin versus 6. 9% for Imperial Oil Limited — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XOM leads at 10. 5% versus 9. 0% for IMO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XOM leads at 21. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is IMO or XOM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) trades at 15.
6x forward P/E versus 15. 8x for Imperial Oil Limited — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XOM: 3. 6% to $160. 43.
08Which pays a better dividend — IMO or XOM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 1. 5% for Imperial Oil Limited (IMO).
09Is IMO or XOM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
15), 2. 6% yield, +115. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOM: +115. 7%, IMO: +360. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between IMO and XOM?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(IMO: 6.7% · XOM: -1.3%)Net Margin>
%
(IMO: 6.9% · XOM: 8.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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