On trading screens, the number $151.21 flashes next to the ticker XOM and has a specific weight. Exxon Mobil is more than just another stock market company; it’s one of those names that sounds almost industrial, like freight trains or steel beams. In contrast to the volatile fluctuations of technology stocks, it can feel oddly serene to watch the price of XOM fluctuate by a few cents throughout the day.

But the quiet is a lie. Exxon Mobil’s stock has steadily increased toward record heights over the last 12 months, reaching almost $160 at one point. That increase occurred while semiconductor and artificial intelligence stocks continued to command the majority of Wall Street’s attention. While everyone else is…