Integrated energy giant ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) is in a tough industry. Not only are its competitors fierce, but its top line is reliant on highly volatile energy prices.

And yet, Exxon has managed to maintain a leading position in the energy space -- or at least most of the time, anyway. Notably, it is back on top when it comes to return on invested capital (ROIC). Here's why you should care.

There are a lot of players in the energy sector, from companies that focus on drilling for oil and natural gas (upstream), to those that move these commodities (midstream), all the way to the companies that refine and process these key energy sources (downstream). Exxon is among a small collection of companies that span all three segments, known as integrated energy majors. This group, which includes Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Shell (NYSE: SHEL), (NYSE: BP), and TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE), also share another trait: They aren't controlled or beholden to a government and are mostly publicly owned. 

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Source Fool.com