There is speculation that Marathon, an American oil company, may dispose of its 32.5% share in Block B, in southern Sudan.

ECONOMIST: Sudan

The intention to sell its 19 terminals, which have a storage capacity of approximately 28 million barrels, and the closing of its Port Reading refinery in New Jersey, Hess is moving ahead with its plan to become purely an exploration and production company, much like ConocoPhillips and Marathon Oil.

FORBES: Hess Selling Downstream Assets To Focus On Shale As Billionaire Paul Singer Looks To Shake Things Up

Before then, Marathon Oil ( MRO) had a 50% stake in Pilot, which made the company ineligible. (For more information about eligibility, click here.) In the summer of 2009, Pilot agreed to acquire Flying J travel plazas.

FORBES: PE Firm Sells Its Share of Pilot Travel Centers

Among the largest underlying components of VTV, in trading today Metlife Incorporated ( NYSE: MET) is up about 0.6%, Dow Chemical Company ( NYSE: DOW) is up about 0.8%, and Marathon Oil Corporation ( NYSE: MRO) is lower by about 1.9%.

FORBES: VTV: ETF Inflow Alert