Oil Industry Valuation One of the Lowest Levels in 50 Years

The behemoths of the oil industry, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), Total SA (ADR) (NYSE:TOT) and Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A) (NYSE:RDS.B) all recently reported a pretty dire second quarter. Profits and operating cash flows fell across the board to such an extent, that one analyst was prompted to ask Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)'s management on the conference call, if the company could continue to sustain its dividend and buyback operations at their current rate.