Core Insights - The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF (FNDX) is a passively managed ETF launched on August 13, 2013, with assets exceeding $19.39 billion, targeting the Large Cap Value segment of the U.S. equity market [1] - Large cap companies typically have market capitalizations above $10 billion, offering stability and lower risk compared to mid and small cap companies [2] - Value stocks are characterized by lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, but they also exhibit lower sales and earnings growth rates [3] Costs - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.25%, which is competitive within its peer group, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.7% [4] Sector Exposure and Top Holdings - The ETF's largest sector allocation is to Financials at approximately 17.4%, followed by Information Technology and Healthcare [5] - Apple Inc. constitutes about 3.86% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings representing around 20.25% of total assets under management [6] Performance and Risk - FNDX aims to replicate the performance of the Russell RAFI US Large Co. Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 7.87% and a one-year return of about 12.26% as of August 18, 2025 [7] - The ETF has a beta of 0.93 and a standard deviation of 15.15% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8] Alternatives - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) and Vanguard Value ETF (VTV) are comparable options, with SCHD having $71.11 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.06%, while VTV has $141.73 billion in assets and charges 0.04% [11] Bottom-Line - Passively managed ETFs are gaining popularity among both institutional and retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [12]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on ExxonMobil, indicating a favorable investment rating based on strong performance in upstream operations [1][2]. Core Insights - ExxonMobil reported adjusted net income of $7.082 billion for Q2 2025, slightly below consensus expectations of $7.082 billion, driven by robust performance in upstream operations [1][2]. - The company reaffirmed its capital expenditure guidance for FY 2025 in the range of $27-29 billion and confirmed a quarterly dividend of $0.99 per share, consistent with Q1 2025 [1]. - ExxonMobil also confirmed a $20 billion stock buyback plan to be maintained through 2026 [1]. Summary by Relevant Sections Upstream Business Performance - The upstream segment achieved adjusted net income of $5.402 billion, exceeding consensus expectations of $4.764 billion, supported by increased production from the Permian Basin and Guyana projects, structural cost savings, favorable exchange rates, and tax impacts, partially offset by price declines [2][4]. - Oil and gas production reached 4.63 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, reflecting a 13% year-over-year increase in H1 2025 [2]. Energy Products - The energy products segment reported adjusted net income of $1.365 billion, surpassing consensus expectations of $1.265 billion, as cost savings and planned maintenance mitigated the impact of declining refining margins [2][4]. Chemical Products - The chemical segment's adjusted net income was $293 million, falling short of consensus expectations of $427 million, primarily due to narrowing margins and increased spending related to projects in China, although partially offset by structural cost savings [2][4]. Specialty Products - The specialty products segment reported adjusted net income of $780 million, exceeding expectations of $728 million, as margin improvements and cost savings offset increased expenses [2][4].

Group 1: Core Insights - International oil giants are continuing to return to traditional business operations, with European oil and gas companies lagging behind their American counterparts in both production and profitability [1][2] - Despite weak international market prices, ExxonMobil and Chevron reported record oil and gas production, with ExxonMobil achieving an average daily production of 4.6 million barrels of oil equivalent and Chevron reaching 3.4 million barrels [1] - Both ExxonMobil and Chevron experienced profit declines due to price factors, with ExxonMobil reporting a net profit of $7.1 billion (down 8% quarter-over-quarter and 15% year-over-year) and Chevron reporting $2.5 billion (down from $4.4 billion year-over-year) [1] Group 2: European Oil Giants Performance - BP and Shell both recorded declines in production for the second quarter, with BP's average daily production at 2.3 million barrels (down 3.3% year-over-year) and Shell at 2.65 million barrels (down 4.2% year-over-year), marking a 20-year low for Shell [2] - Although BP and Shell's profits declined year-over-year, both exceeded analyst expectations, indicating better-than-expected performance [2] - European oil giants are facing pressure to adjust their strategies due to significantly lower production and declining profits compared to American peers, with asset sales and reduced oil and gas investments identified as primary reasons for their weak performance [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the oil and gas sector [5] Core Viewpoints - The performance of major international oil companies declined in H1 2025 due to falling oil prices and low refining margins, with net profits for ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Total, and BP showing year-on-year decreases of -15.3%, -39.7%, -22.9%, -31.2%, and -31.8% respectively [1][9][10] - The IEA has revised down its global oil demand growth forecast for 2025 and 2026, primarily due to weaker-than-expected demand from emerging markets like China, India, and Brazil [3][24] - Despite the oversupply pressure on oil prices, geopolitical risks from sanctions on Russia and Iran add uncertainty to the market [3][24] Summary by Sections Section 1: Performance of Major Oil Companies - In H1 2025, the average Brent crude oil price was $70.81 per barrel, a decrease of 15.1% year-on-year, with Q2 averaging $66.71 per barrel, down 21.5% [1][10] - Refining margins for Shell, Total, and BP fell by 24.4%, 44.4%, and 26.2% respectively, indicating a challenging refining market [1][10] - Natural gas prices increased, with Henry Hub and TTF averages rising by 66.8% and 38.9% year-on-year, but major companies like Shell and BP did not achieve year-on-year growth in their gas business due to lagging contract prices and production declines [1][10] Section 2: Oil and Gas Production Growth - The total oil and gas equivalent production of the five major international oil companies grew by 2.96% year-on-year in H1 2025, with ExxonMobil achieving a 15.5% increase in crude oil production due to rapid output from the Guyana block [2][18] - Cost control measures helped mitigate some performance volatility, with ExxonMobil's upstream profit only declining by 4.5% due to effective cost management [2][21] Section 3: IEA Oil Demand Forecast - The IEA has lowered its oil demand growth forecast for 2025 by 20,000 barrels per day, now expecting an increase of 680,000 barrels per day [3][24] - The IEA anticipates that OPEC+ will increase production by 1.2 million barrels per day in 2025, contributing to a total supply increase of 2.5 million barrels per day [3][24] Section 4: Investment Recommendations - The report suggests a continued positive outlook for major Chinese oil companies and oil service sectors, as well as for chemical products in the long term [4] - Specific companies to watch include China National Petroleum Corporation, Sinopec, CNOOC, and various oil service engineering firms [4]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Underperform" rating for the U.S. stock market [1] Core Insights - The U.S. stock market continues to reach new highs, with small-cap stocks showing strong performance [3] - The S&P 500 index increased by 0.9%, while the Nasdaq rose by 0.8% [3] - 18 out of 24 sectors experienced gains, with notable increases in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and life sciences (+5.5%) and healthcare equipment and services (+4.2%) [3] Price Trends - The report highlights that small-cap value stocks (Russell 2000 Value) outperformed small-cap growth stocks, with a rise of 3.4% compared to 2.8% [3] - The sectors with the largest gains include pharmaceuticals and biotechnology (+5.5%), healthcare equipment and services (+4.2%), and durable goods and apparel (+3.6%) [3] - Conversely, sectors that declined include food and staples retailing (-2.4%) and commercial and professional services (-1.4%) [3] Fund Flows - Estimated fund flows for S&P 500 constituents showed a significant increase to +$7.58 billion this week, up from +$1.70 billion last week [4] - The healthcare equipment and services sector saw the highest inflow at +$2.76 billion, followed by media and entertainment (+$1.31 billion) and pharmaceuticals (+$1.09 billion) [4] - Notably, the software and services sector experienced an outflow of -$476 million [4] Earnings Forecast - The report indicates a 0.2% upward adjustment in the 12-month forward EPS expectations for S&P 500 constituents [5] - 22 sectors saw an increase in earnings expectations, with semiconductor products and equipment leading at +0.6% [5] - The energy sector was the only one to experience a downward revision, with a decrease of -0.3% [5] Global Asset Overview - The S&P 500 index closed at 6,450, reflecting a 0.9% increase for the week and a 16.1% increase year-to-date [11] - The Russell 2000 index, representing small-cap stocks, rose by 3.1% this week, indicating strong performance in this segment [11] Sector Observations - The healthcare sector recorded a price return of 5.0% this week, outperforming other sectors [16] - The materials sector also performed well, with a 1.8% increase, while the energy sector lagged with only a 0.5% increase [16] - The report notes that the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector had the highest price return at 5.5% [16]

Group 1: Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) Strategy and Investments - Exxon Mobil Corporation has integrated its low-carbon strategy into its core operations, aiming for net-zero (Scope 1 & 2) emissions from operated assets by 2050 and from Permian operations by 2030 [1][10] - The company plans to invest $30 billion in Lower Carbon Solutions from 2025 to 2030, focusing on carbon capture and storage (CCS), low-carbon hydrogen, and ammonia [2][10] - ExxonMobil controls over 1,500 miles of CO2 pipelines, the largest CO2 pipeline network in the United States, and its solutions could help reduce third-party emissions by over 50 million tons annually by 2030 [2] Group 2: Specific Projects and Developments - At Baytown, Texas, ExxonMobil plans to install a low-carbon hydrogen plant capable of producing up to 1 billion cubic feet per day of hydrogen, with over 98% of associated CO2 captured and up to 10 million tons of CO2 handled via CCS [3][10] - The portfolio includes lithium development in Arkansas, aiming for first production in 2027 and supplying approximately 1 million electric vehicles per year by 2030 [3] Group 3: Competitors' Commitments - Chevron has committed $10 billion through 2028 to advance low-carbon initiatives, targeting production of 100,000 barrels per day of renewable fuels and capturing 25 million tons of CO2 [5] - Shell aims to invest $10-$15 billion between 2023 and 2025 in low-carbon energy, focusing on electric vehicle charging, renewable power, and hydrogen infrastructure [6] Group 4: Financial Performance and Valuation - Shares of ExxonMobil have lost 9.4% over the past year, compared to the industry's 3.6% decline [9] - ExxonMobil trades at a trailing 12-month enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) of 6.92X, above the broader industry average of 4.27X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ExxonMobil's 2025 earnings has been revised upward over the past 30 days, with current estimates at $6.59 for the current year and $7.44 for the next year [13][14]

Group 1: ExxonMobil's Expansion in Trinidad and Tobago - ExxonMobil has signed an agreement to explore over 2,700 square miles of deepwater acreage off Trinidad's east coast, with potential investments of up to $21.7 billion if substantial reserves are found [1] - The geological setting of the area is similar to other major deepwater discoveries, and ExxonMobil aims to replicate its success from offshore projects in Guyana [2][10] - The company will operate the deepwater block with a 100% working interest, allowing full control over exploration and development decisions [4] Group 2: Upcoming Operations and Surveys - ExxonMobil plans to initiate a geophysical survey within the next six months to gather subsurface data, followed by drilling operations to test oil and gas prospects [3][10] - The company will leverage existing infrastructure and resources between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to expedite the exploration process [3] Group 3: Market Position and Comparisons - ExxonMobil currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), while other energy sector stocks like Antero Midstream Corporation, Flotek Industries, and Enbridge Inc. have better rankings [5] - Antero Midstream generates stable cash flow through long-term contracts and has a commitment to debt reduction, with an average earnings surprise of 1.13% [6] - Flotek Industries has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with an average surprise of 65.2%, and is projected to see 94% year-over-year growth in 2025 [8] - Enbridge operates the longest oil and gas pipeline system in North America, earning steady fees through long-term contracts, with an average earnings surprise of 5.61% [9][11]

Core Insights - The Vanguard Energy ETF (VDE) is a passively managed fund launched on September 23, 2004, providing long-term investors with a low-cost, transparent, and tax-efficient investment vehicle in the energy sector [1][3]. Fund Overview - VDE has over $6.98 billion in assets, making it one of the largest ETFs in the Energy - Broad segment [3]. - The fund aims to match the performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Energy 25/50 Index, which includes large, mid-size, and small U.S. companies in the energy sector [3]. Cost Structure - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.09%, positioning it as one of the least expensive options in the market [4]. - It offers a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.28% [4]. Sector Exposure and Holdings - VDE is heavily concentrated in the energy sector, with approximately 99.9% of its portfolio allocated to this sector [5]. - The largest holding is Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM), which constitutes about 22.62% of total assets, followed by Chevron Corp (CVX) and Conocophillips (COP) [6]. Performance Metrics - As of August 13, 2025, VDE has experienced a year-to-date loss of about 0.28% and a decline of approximately 1.99% over the past year [7]. - The fund has traded between $105.87 and $136.78 in the last 52 weeks, with a beta of 0.80 and a standard deviation of 24.23% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a higher risk profile [7]. Alternatives - VDE holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting it is a viable option for investors seeking exposure to energy ETFs [8]. - Other alternatives include the iShares Global Energy ETF (IXC) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE), with assets of $1.76 billion and $26.34 billion respectively [9].

Geopolitical Tensions and Energy Market Impact - New measures have been implemented to prevent countries from purchasing oil from Russia to de-escalate the ongoing war with Ukraine [1] - Concerns are rising that these measures may disrupt supply chains and production volumes, directly impacting oil prices [2] Investment Opportunities in Energy Sector - Investors are encouraged to consider companies like Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp., and Transocean Ltd. for potential upside through 2025 [2] Exxon Mobil Performance - Exxon Mobil reported an earnings-per-share (EPS) of $1.64, exceeding Wall Street's expectation of $1.47, indicating strong performance despite lower oil prices [4][5] - The stock is currently trading at $106.10, with a price target of $125.26 and a dividend yield of 3.73% [3] Chevron Stock Analysis - Chevron's stock is trading at $154.38, close to its 52-week high, with an EPS of $1.77, surpassing the expected $1.58 [8][9] - Analysts have set a price target of $164.11, with some projecting a potential upside to $186 per share [9][10] Transocean's Growth Potential - Transocean's stock is priced at $2.95, with a price target of $4.20, indicating significant growth potential despite its volatility [12] - The company is expected to see a net EPS increase from a loss of $0.10 to a profit of $0.08 by Q4 2025, highlighting a favorable risk-to-reward scenario [14]

Exploration and Development - Exxon signed a deal to explore for oil and gas off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago [1] - This deal comes a decade after Exxon's major discovery in Guyana [1]