...the results were well short of Wall Street expectations and its shares slumped 3 percent.

Apparently, earnings from competitor Royal Dutch Shell got everyone's hopes up when their profits jumped 33%. Poor Exxon.

Oil Profits Shatter Records [Huffington Post]
(Photo: whatatravisty )

What do you know, a lot of these companies that gave sweet severance packages to their CEOs were also nominated for Worst Company in America, with two of them reaching the Elite Eight. The first one, Exxon, sent its CEO Lee Raymond off with a $351 million package; the money should come in handy for when he wants to offer additional awards to scientists who come up with evidence that global warming is a myth.

Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide Mortgage (also an Elite Eight member) has appeared on Consumerist recently, as a result of investigation of the "Friends of Angelo" program that gave sweetheart rates to influential borrowers, including members of Congress. Oh also, he was part of that whole subprime mortgage meltdown. Guess that's why he only got $23.8 million when he stepped down.

Last but not least, 2006's Worst Company in America and 2007's runner-up, Halliburton, gave a $34 million package and 430,000 shares of stock to its outgoing CEO, Dick Cheney. Unlike Countrywide, Halliburton is doing pretty well for itself right about now.

15 of the Most Astonishing Retirements, Bonuses, and Cash-Outs in Corporate America [HR World]
(Photo: Getty) (Thanks to Paul!)

Here's what a few of you said about these two companies:

Comcast:
"If Comcast does not win then the entire fun of this whole contest has been wiped out for me."

"Comcast is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad company."

"Comcast deserves not just worst company but most evil. Adding more "high def" just by compressing the channels to a signal that my non-technical sister can see is pixelated? "Shaping" bandwidth without notifying customers of that? Their "unlimited" plan that has limits; their faster plan that just lets you hit the limits sooner? None of that enough for you?

Then let me continue: Comcast in my area is the ONLY choice for internet other than dial-up. So I'm screwed."

"Considering Comcast actually rigged a public hearing with paid schmo's to prevent their opposition from being heard... COMCAST. Hands down."

"Has anyone else here seen the look of sheer terror on the face of a Comcast employee when he is about to setup your internet and sees a Mac? It's amazing."

Exxon:

"Exxon-Mobil should get the lifetime achievement award and be permanently dropped from future consideration. They are truly in a league by themselves. That is all."

This is a post in our Worst Company In America 2008 series. The companies nominated for this honor were chosen by you, the readers. Keep track of all the goings on at consumerist.com/tag/worst-company-in-america.

Reuters says:

Service stations have struggled, even with soaring gasoline prices, because they have not been able to push the high cost of crude oil on to customers. According to federal data, gasoline prices are up about 31 percent over the last year.

Exxon Plans to Sell Its Gas Stations [NYT]
(Photo: whatatravisty )

Here's your second "Sweet 16" match-up: #9 Exxon VS #25 DeBeers.

Here's what some of you had to say about these two companies:

DeBeers:
"DeBeers is a racket. But they probably have the world's most successful marketing campaign in convincing women that diamonds are valuable and equal Love."

"No, really honey, here's how this works. I give some crappy monopoly $10,000 and you get this little shiny glittery thing and that proves how much I love you. See, I prove my love for you by giving away all my hard earned cash. Why, you ask? Because the TV said I had to!!"

Exxon:
"Well, I know that I nominated Exxon Mobile, as I'm sure many did, so here was my reason: Record high oil prices (and this was back when the record was $100/barrel), record high gas prices, record high profits. The price of gas and diesel is driving up the cost of consumer goods, most notably groceries, and causing our already strained economy to be even moreso. Plus, they got off pretty easy for the Valdez spill. And I'm surly."

This is a post in our Worst Company In America 2008 series. The companies nominated for this honor were chosen by you, the readers. Keep track of all the goings on at consumerist.com/tag/worst-company-in-america.