Bad Democrat

I think that ESSO is going to perform really well for the rest of the year because it’s Exxon oil primarily used by the rest of the world. The brand reminds me of the Middle East and it’s connected to America, although its ties to other countries actually seem stronger. I think the rest of the world is having a moment based on the war showing so many riveting images of the Middle East (but they’re saying that America is the connector).

I wrote this without googling “ESSO stock”, then I did, and saw this in the AI autofill part of google:

Esso S.A.F. (EPA: ES.PA / EH8.F) is currently undergoing a major transition as ExxonMobil divests its stake, resulting in high volatility and a significant price drop in mid-2025 following a special dividend payment. The company is transitioning to a new entity, with recent trading around €65-66 (as of March 2026), reflecting a sharp decline from previous highs after paying out the special dividend.

The “special dividend payment” is because Exxon divested its shares of ESSO and the company is restructuring. This summary is a dramatic difference from what I predicted, based on something I didn’t know. “Learning”. Not quite. I am actually suggesting that I am coming up with ideas based on AI stating I’m dramatically wrong because late last year I wrote two or three posts about how AI wasn’t going to be the boom we thought it was. And oh, look at what’s happening with Anthropic.