In the last four years energy investors have dumped stocks in oil companies that boost capital spending, favoring higher returns over spending on costly, long-term new projects. But Exxon shares last month hit a record high of $120, lifted by returns on its oil, gas and refining businesses. 2 Permian shale oil producer, for $60 billion, signals it is ready to pay up for production after missing its own output targets in the Permian. A deal would bring Exxon to about 1.33 million barrels of oil and gas per day, the largest in the oilfield. It has good reserves, growing production, spending in check and debt at healthy levels, he said.

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Persons: Lucas Jackson, Exxon Mobil's, Bill Smead, Vince Lorusso, Lorusso, Shale Research Alexandre Ramos, Kathryn Mikells, Bass, Scott Hanold, Matthew Bernstein, Sabrina Valle, Anna Driver, Diane Craft Organizations: Exxon Mobil Corporation, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Exxon, Natural Resources, Smead Capital Management, Clough Capital Partners, Management, Shale Research, XTO Energy, RBC Capital Markets, ExxonMobil, Rystad Energy, Thomson Locations: New York, Ukraine, U.S, Americas, Guyana