Exxon Mobil Corp ( XOM ) shares are trading lower by 6.5% to $104.39 since Monday’s open. The decline this week comes as crude oil prices slump to a six-month low following a larger-than-expected build in U.S. crude inventories, raising concerns about weakening demand.

What To Know: As the largest U.S. oil major, Exxon relies heavily on strong crude prices to drive its upstream earnings. Lower oil prices directly impact its production revenues, reducing cash flow that funds dividends and capital expenditures.

Additionally, Exxon's refining and chemical businesses, which typically act as a hedge against oil price declines, could also fall under pressure due to weaker margins and softening global demand.

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OPEC+'s decision to move forward with its planned April rollback of production cuts has added further uncertainty, fueling concerns about an oversupplied market. Exxon has focused on expanding production in key regions like the Permian Basin and Guyana, but lower crude prices could challenge profitability in these areas.

With macroeconomic headwinds, market volatility and oil prices under pressure, Exxon faces increasing challenges to maintain earnings growth, prompting today's stock decline to a fresh yearly low. Investors remain wary of the company's near-term outlook.

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How To Buy XOM Stock

Besides going to a brokerage platform to purchase a share – or fractional share – of stock, you can also gain access to shares either by buying an exchange traded fund (ETF) that holds the stock itself, or by allocating yourself to a strategy in your 401(k) that would seek to acquire shares in a mutual fund or other instrument.

For example, in Exxon Mobil’s case, it is in the Energy sector. An ETF will likely hold shares in many liquid and large companies that help track that sector, allowing an investor to gain exposure to the trends within that segment.

According to data from Benzinga Pro, XOM has a 52-week high of $126.34 and a 52-week low of $103.67.