Better Buy: ExxonMobil vs. BP

For more than a century, oil and gas behemoths ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and BP (NYSE: BP) have been working to help meet the world's energy needs. The companies (or their predecessors) have survived numerous oil spills, accidents, and backlash from environmental groups over their long histories. But which of these two has better prospects as the world transitions away from fossil fuels? Let's take a closer look at the two companies to find that out.

ExxonMobil beats BP on several key financial metrics. Exxon has consistently generated higher return on invested capital, which shows how efficiently a company spends shareholders' money, over at least the last two decades. ExxonMobil also grew its dividend consistently -- compared to BP, which slashed its dividend twice during this timeframe.