XOM Exxon Mobil Corp

• Focus remains on business fundamentals, including project execution and cost management
• Downstream and Chemical results highlight strength of integrated businesses
• Six major Upstream projects contribute to 3.2 percent volume growth

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM):

              Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2015 2014 % 2015 2014 % Earnings Summary (Dollars in millions, except per share data) Earnings 2,780 6,570 -58 16,150 32,520 -50 Earnings Per Common Share Assuming Dilution 0.67 1.56 -57 3.85 7.60 -49   Capital and Exploration Expenditures 7,416 10,464 -29 31,051 38,537 -19  

Exxon Mobil Corporation today announced estimated 2015 earnings of $16.2 billion compared with $32.5 billion a year earlier. Higher Downstream and Chemical earnings were offset by sharply lower commodity prices in the Upstream.

“While our financial results reflect the challenging environment, we remain focused on the business fundamentals, including project execution and effective cost management,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and chief executive officer. “The scale and diversity of our cash flows, along with our financial strength, provide us with the confidence to invest through the cycle to create long-term shareholder value.”

ExxonMobil completed six major Upstream projects during the year and achieved its full-year plan to produce 4.1 million oil-equivalent barrels per day. These new developments in Canada, Indonesia, Norway, the United States and West Africa added 300,000 oil-equivalent barrels per day of working interest production capacity.

Fourth quarter earnings were $2.8 billion, or $0.67 per diluted share, down from $6.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014. Lower commodity prices in the Upstream were partly offset by higher Downstream earnings.

During 2015, the corporation distributed $15.1 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Earnings of $2.8 billion decreased $3.8 billion, or 58 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Earnings per share, assuming dilution, were $0.67, a decrease of 57 percent.
• Capital and exploration expenditures were $7.4 billion, down 29 percent from the fourth quarter of 2014.
• Oil-equivalent production increased 4.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2014, with liquids up 14 percent and natural gas down 5.6 percent.
• Cash flow from operations and asset sales was $5.1 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of $785 million.
• The corporation distributed $3.6 billion to shareholders in the fourth quarter of 2015, including $500 million in share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.
• Dividends per share of $0.73 increased 5.8 percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2014.
• ExxonMobil successfully started the onshore central processing facility at the Banyu Urip field in Indonesia, which helped production reach more than 130,000 gross barrels of oil per day in the fourth quarter. The field is currently ramping up to full capacity and is expected to produce 450 million gross barrels of oil over its lifetime.
• The company is beginning a production pilot program on the La Invernada and Bajo del Choique blocks in the Neuquén province of Argentina. This program includes drilling five wells, as well as constructing a production facility and gas pipeline.

Fourth Quarter 2015 vs. Fourth Quarter 2014

Upstream earnings were $857 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, down $4.6 billion from the fourth quarter of 2014. Lower liquids and gas realizations decreased earnings by $3.7 billion, while volume and mix effects increased earnings by $100 million, benefiting from new developments. All other items, including the absence of both the prior year U.S. deferred income tax effects and recognition of a favorable arbitration ruling for expropriated Venezuela assets, decreased earnings by $960 million.

On an oil-equivalent basis, production increased 4.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2014. Liquids production totaled 2.5 million barrels per day, up 299,000 barrels per day. Project ramp-up, work programs and entitlement effects were partly offset by field decline. Natural gas production was 10.6 billion cubic feet per day, down 631 million cubic feet per day from 2014 due to regulatory restrictions in the Netherlands and field decline, partly offset by entitlement effects.

U.S. Upstream earnings declined $2 billion from the fourth quarter of 2014 to a loss of $538 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Non-U.S. Upstream earnings were $1.4 billion, down $2.6 billion from the prior year.

Downstream earnings were $1.4 billion, up $854 million from the fourth quarter of 2014. Stronger margins and favorable volume and mix effects increased earnings by $610 million and $70 million, respectively. All other items increased earnings by $170 million, including lower maintenance expenses and favorable foreign exchange and tax effects, partly offset by unfavorable inventory impacts. Petroleum product sales of 5.7 million barrels per day were 166,000 barrels per day lower than the prior year.

Earnings from the U.S. Downstream were $435 million, up $436 million from the fourth quarter of 2014. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings of $916 million were $418 million higher than last year.

Chemical earnings of $963 million were $264 million lower than the fourth quarter of 2014. Margins decreased earnings by $210 million driven by declining realizations. Volume and mix effects increased earnings by $170 million. All other items decreased earnings by $230 million, largely due to unfavorable foreign exchange, tax and inventory effects. Fourth quarter prime product sales of 6.5 million metric tons were 765,000 metric tons higher than the prior year's fourth quarter.

Corporate and financing expenses were $391 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, compared to $622 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, with the decrease due mainly to net favorable tax-related impacts.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, ExxonMobil purchased 9.4 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of $754 million. These purchases included $500 million to reduce the number of shares outstanding, with the balance used to acquire shares to offset dilution in conjunction with the company’s benefit plans and programs. In the first quarter of 2016, the corporation will continue to acquire shares to offset dilution in conjunction with its benefit plans and programs, but does not plan on making purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

Full Year 2015 Highlights

• Earnings of $16.2 billion decreased 50 percent from $32.5 billion in 2014.
• Earnings per share, assuming dilution, decreased 49 percent to $3.85.
• Capital and exploration expenditures were $31.1 billion, down 19 percent from 2014. The company anticipates further reductions in 2016, with capital and exploration expenditures of $23.2 billion, a decrease of 25 percent from 2015.
• Oil-equivalent production increased 3.2 percent from 2014, with liquids up 11 percent and natural gas down 5.7 percent.
• Cash flow from operations and asset sales was $32.7 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of $2.4 billion.
• The corporation distributed $15.1 billion to shareholders in 2015 through dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding.

Full Year 2015 vs. Full Year 2014

Upstream earnings were $7.1 billion, down $20.4 billion from 2014. Lower realizations decreased earnings by $18.8 billion. Favorable volume and mix effects increased earnings by $810 million, including contributions from new developments. All other items decreased earnings by $2.4 billion, primarily due to lower asset management gains and the absence of prior year deferred income tax effects.

On an oil-equivalent basis, production of 4.1 million barrels per day was up 3.2 percent compared to 2014. Liquids production of 2.3 million barrels per day increased 234,000 barrels per day, with project ramp-up and entitlement effects partly offset by field decline. Natural gas production of 10.5 billion cubic feet per day decreased 630 million cubic feet per day from 2014 as regulatory restrictions in the Netherlands and field decline were partly offset by project ramp-up, work programs and entitlement effects.

U.S. Upstream earnings declined $6.3 billion from 2014 to a loss of $1.1 billion in 2015. Earnings outside the U.S. were $8.2 billion, down $14.2 billion from the prior year.

Downstream earnings of $6.6 billion increased $3.5 billion from 2014. Stronger margins increased earnings by $4.1 billion, while volume and mix effects decreased earnings by $200 million. All other items decreased earnings by $420 million, reflecting higher maintenance expense and unfavorable inventory impacts, partly offset by favorable foreign exchange effects. Petroleum product sales of 5.8 million barrels per day were 121,000 barrels per day lower than 2014.

U.S. Downstream earnings were $1.9 billion, an increase of $283 million from 2014. Non-U.S. Downstream earnings were $4.7 billion, up $3.2 billion from the prior year.

Chemical earnings of $4.4 billion increased $103 million from 2014. Stronger margins increased earnings by $590 million. Favorable volume and mix effects increased earnings by $220 million. All other items decreased earnings by $710 million, reflecting unfavorable foreign exchange, tax and inventory effects, partly offset by asset management gains. Prime product sales of 24.7 million metric tons were up 478,000 metric tons from 2014.

Corporate and financing expenses were $1.9 billion in 2015 compared to $2.4 billion in 2014, with the decrease due mainly to net favorable tax-related items.

During 2015, ExxonMobil purchased 48 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of $4 billion. These purchases included $3 billion to reduce the number of shares outstanding, with the balance used to acquire shares to offset dilution in conjunction with the company’s benefit plans and programs.

ExxonMobil will discuss financial and operating results and other matters during a webcast at 9:30 a.m. Central Time on February 2, 2016. To listen to the event or access an archived replay, please visit www.exxonmobil.com.

Cautionary Statement

Statements relating to future plans, projections, events or conditions are forward-looking statements. Actual financial and operating results, including project plans, costs, timing, and capacities; capital and exploration expenditures; resource recoveries; and share purchase levels, could differ materially due to factors including: changes in oil or gas prices or other market or economic conditions affecting the oil and gas industry, including the scope and duration of economic recessions; the outcome of exploration and development efforts; changes in law or government regulation, including tax and environmental requirements; the impact of fiscal and commercial terms; changes in technical or operating conditions; and other factors discussed under the heading "Factors Affecting Future Results" in the “Investors” section of our website and in Item 1A of ExxonMobil's 2014 Form 10-K. We assume no duty to update these statements as of any future date.

Frequently Used Terms

This press release includes cash flow from operations and asset sales, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Because of the regular nature of our asset management and divestment program, we believe it is useful for investors to consider proceeds associated with the sales of subsidiaries, property, plant and equipment, and sales and returns of investments together with cash provided by operating activities when evaluating cash available for investment in the business and financing activities. A reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities is shown in Attachment II. References to quantities of oil or natural gas may include amounts that we believe will ultimately be produced, but that are not yet classified as “proved reserves” under SEC definitions. Further information on ExxonMobil's frequently used financial and operating measures and other terms is contained under the heading "Frequently Used Terms" available through the “Investors” section of our website at exxonmobil.com.

Reference to Earnings

References to corporate earnings mean net income attributable to ExxonMobil (U.S. GAAP) from the consolidated income statement. Unless otherwise indicated, references to earnings, Upstream, Downstream, Chemical and Corporate and Financing segment earnings, and earnings per share are ExxonMobil's share after excluding amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests.

The term “project” as used in this release can refer to a variety of different activities and does not necessarily have the same meaning as in any government payment transparency reports.

Exxon Mobil Corporation has numerous affiliates, many with names that include ExxonMobil, Exxon, Mobil, Esso, and XTO. For convenience and simplicity, those terms and terms such as Corporation, company, our, we, and its are sometimes used as abbreviated references to specific affiliates or affiliate groups. Similarly, ExxonMobil has business relationships with thousands of customers, suppliers, governments, and others. For convenience and simplicity, words such as venture, joint venture, partnership, co-venturer, and partner are used to indicate business and other relationships involving common activities and interests, and those words may not indicate precise legal relationships.

        Estimated Key Financial and Operating Data       Attachment I Exxon Mobil Corporation Fourth Quarter 2015 (millions of dollars, unless noted) Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2015   2014 2015 2014 Earnings / Earnings Per Share   Total revenues and other income 59,807 87,276 268,882 411,939 Total costs and other deductions 57,179 78,434 246,916 360,309 Income before income taxes 2,628 8,842 21,966 51,630 Income taxes 1 (202 ) 2,060 5,415 18,015 Net income including noncontrolling interests 2,830 6,782 16,551 33,615 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 50 212 401 1,095 Net income attributable to ExxonMobil (U.S. GAAP) 2,780 6,570 16,150 32,520   Earnings per common share (dollars) 0.67 1.56 3.85 7.60   Earnings per common share - assuming dilution (dollars) 0.67 1.56 3.85 7.60     Other Financial Data   Dividends on common stock Total 3,054 2,924 12,090 11,568 Per common share (dollars) 0.73 0.69 2.88 2.70   Millions of common shares outstanding At December 31 4,156 4,201 Average - assuming dilution 4,183 4,235 4,196 4,282   ExxonMobil share of equity at December 31 170,811 174,399 ExxonMobil share of capital employed at December 31 211,658 205,852   Income taxes 1 (202 ) 2,060 5,415 18,015 Sales-based taxes 5,370 6,536 22,678 29,342 All other taxes 7,336 8,292 29,790 35,515 Total taxes 12,504 16,888 57,883 82,872   ExxonMobil share of income taxes of equity companies 609 1,092 3,011 5,678  

1 Excludes ExxonMobil share of equity company income taxes noted above. Including income tax from equity companies, ExxonMobil's effective tax rate was 13 percent in the fourth quarter and 34 percent for full-year 2015.

            Attachment II   Exxon Mobil Corporation Fourth Quarter 2015 (millions of dollars) Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2015   2014   2015   2014   Earnings (U.S. GAAP) Upstream United States (538 ) 1,503 (1,079 ) 5,197 Non-U.S. 1,395 3,965 8,180 22,351 Downstream United States 435 (1 ) 1,901 1,618 Non-U.S. 916 498 4,656 1,427 Chemical United States 520 832 2,386 2,804 Non-U.S. 443 395 2,032 1,511 Corporate and financing (391 ) (622 ) (1,926 ) (2,388 ) Net income attributable to ExxonMobil 2,780 6,570 16,150 32,520     Cash flow from operations and asset sales (billions of dollars) Net cash provided by operating activities (U.S. GAAP) 4.3 7.5 30.3 45.2 Proceeds associated with asset sales 0.8 0.2 2.4 4.0 Cash flow from operations and asset sales 5.1 7.7 32.7 49.2               Attachment III   Exxon Mobil Corporation Fourth Quarter 2015   Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2015 2014 2015 2014 Net production of crude oil, natural gas liquids, bitumen and synthetic oil, thousand barrels per day (kbd) United States 494 473 476 454 Canada / South America 452 312 402 301 Europe 222 190 204 184 Africa 543 519 529 489 Asia 722 631 684 624 Australia / Oceania 48 57 50 59 Worldwide 2,481 2,182 2,345 2,111   Natural gas production available for sale, million cubic feet per day (mcfd) United States 3,123 3,371 3,147 3,404 Canada / South America 241 320 261 310 Europe 2,504 3,191 2,286 2,816 Africa 4 2 5 4 Asia 4,103 3,786 4,139 4,099 Australia / Oceania 628 564 677 512 Worldwide 10,603 11,234 10,515 11,145   Oil-equivalent production (koebd)1 4,248 4,054 4,097 3,969   1 Gas converted to oil-equivalent at 6 million cubic feet = 1 thousand barrels.             Attachment IV   Exxon Mobil Corporation Fourth Quarter 2015   Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2015 2014 2015 2014 Refinery throughput (kbd) United States 1,649 1,876 1,709 1,809 Canada 390 373 386 394 Europe 1,483 1,438 1,496 1,454 Asia Pacific 679 470 647 628 Other 194 192 194 191 Worldwide 4,395 4,349 4,432 4,476   Petroleum product sales (kbd) United States 2,416 2,666 2,521 2,655 Canada 472 489 488 496 Europe 1,530 1,597 1,542 1,555 Asia Pacific 758 644 746 721 Other 503 449 457 448 Worldwide 5,679 5,845 5,754 5,875   Gasolines, naphthas 2,330 2,486 2,363 2,452 Heating oils, kerosene, diesel 1,921 1,926 1,924 1,912 Aviation fuels 403 405 413 423 Heavy fuels 368 371 377 390 Specialty products 657 657 677 698 Worldwide 5,679 5,845 5,754 5,875   Chemical prime product sales, thousand metric tons (kt) United States 2,565 2,409 9,664 9,528 Non-U.S. 3,919 3,310 15,049 14,707 Worldwide 6,484 5,719 24,713 24,235             Attachment V   Exxon Mobil Corporation Fourth Quarter 2015 (millions of dollars) Fourth Quarter Twelve Months 2015 2014 2015 2014 Capital and Exploration Expenditures Upstream United States 1,615 2,350 7,822 9,401 Non-U.S. 4,255 6,295 17,585 23,326 Total 5,870 8,645 25,407 32,727 Downstream United States 236 422 1,039 1,310 Non-U.S. 543 610 1,574 1,724 Total 779 1,032 2,613 3,034 Chemical United States 493 449 1,945 1,690 Non-U.S. 199 322 898 1,051 Total 692 771 2,843 2,741   Other 75 16 188 35   Worldwide 7,416 10,464 31,051 38,537     Exploration expenses charged to income included above Consolidated affiliates United States 60 52 182 230 Non-U.S. 459 484 1,340 1,432 Equity companies - ExxonMobil share United States 9 7 12 61 Non-U.S. 3 49 36 241 Worldwide 531 592 1,570 1,964           Attachment VI   Exxon Mobil Corporation Earnings   $ Millions

$ Per CommonShare1

 

2011

First Quarter 10,650 2.14 Second Quarter 10,680 2.19 Third Quarter 10,330 2.13 Fourth Quarter 9,400 1.97 Year 41,060 8.43  

2012

First Quarter 9,450 2.00 Second Quarter 15,910 3.41 Third Quarter 9,570 2.09 Fourth Quarter 9,950 2.20 Year 44,880 9.70  

2013

First Quarter 9,500 2.12 Second Quarter 6,860 1.55 Third Quarter 7,870 1.79 Fourth Quarter 8,350 1.91 Year 32,580 7.37  

2014

First Quarter 9,100 2.10 Second Quarter 8,780 2.05 Third Quarter 8,070 1.89 Fourth Quarter 6,570 1.56 Year 32,520 7.60  

2015

First Quarter 4,940 1.17 Second Quarter 4,190 1.00 Third Quarter 4,240 1.01 Fourth Quarter 2,780 0.67 Year 16,150 3.85  

1 Computed using the average number of shares outstanding during each period.

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