CLB
Core Laboratories N.V.
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Market Cap$586M
5Y Perf.-37.4%
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LBRT
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Stock Comparison
CLB vs LBRT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LBRT
Liberty Energy Inc.
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Market Cap$4.55B
5Y Perf.+412.2%
CLB vs LBRT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  CLB |  LBRT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Equipment & Services | Oil & Gas Equipment & Services |
| Market Cap | $586M | $4.55B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $525M | $4.05B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $31M | $150M |
| Gross Margin | 17.8% | 10.7% |
| Operating Margin | 10.0% | 1.5% |
| Forward P/E | 21.2x | 105.2x |
| Total Debt | $206M | $873M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $23M | $28M |
CLB vs LBRT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CLB
LBRT
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Laboratories N… (CLB) | 100 | 62.6 | -37.4% |
| Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) | 100 | 512.2 | +412.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CLB vs LBRT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CLB leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Liberty Energy Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for dividend income and shareholder returns and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇CLB emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
CLB
Core Laboratories N.V.
The Growth Play
CLB carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 0.5%, EPS growth 3.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.96, Low D/E 73.8%, current ratio 2.07x
- Beta 0.96, yield 0.3%, current ratio 2.07x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
LBRT
Liberty Energy Inc.
The Income Pick
LBRT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 1.21, yield 1.2%
- 73.5% 10Y total return vs CLB's -83.0%
- 1.2% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs CLB's 0.3%
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  CLB | 0.5% revenue growth vs LBRT's -7.2% |
| Value | CLB | Lower P/E (21.2x vs 105.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | CLB | 5.9% margin vs LBRT's 3.7% |
| Stability / Safety | CLB | Beta 0.96 vs LBRT's 1.21 |
| Dividends |  LBRT | 1.2% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs CLB's 0.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LBRT | +112.2% vs CLB's +5.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CLB | 5.2% ROA vs LBRT's 4.0%, ROIC 8.3% vs 2.3% |
CLB vs LBRT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CLB vs LBRT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCLBLAGGINGLBRT
LBRTLiberty Energy Inc.
2leads
CLBCore Laboratories N.V.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LBRTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
CLB4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CLB5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CLB7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LBRT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
LBRT2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CLB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LBRT is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.0B annually — 7.7x CLB's $525M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 5.9% (CLB) to 3.7% (LBRT). On growth, LBRT holds the edge at +4.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CLBCore Laboratories… | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $525M | $4.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $71M | $549M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $31M | $150M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $24M | -$193M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +10.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.0% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.9% | +3.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.5% | -4.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.4% | +4.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +16.7% |
CLB leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CLB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.7x trailing earnings, CLB trades at a 41% valuation discount to LBRT's 31.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, LBRT's 9.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CLB's 12.1x.
| Metric | CLBCore Laboratories… | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $586M | $4.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $769M | $5.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.71x | 31.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.24x | 105.21x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.11x | 9.28x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.11x | 1.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.11x | 2.24x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 25.93x | 322.49x |
CLB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CLB leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CLB delivers a 11.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $7 for LBRT. LBRT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CLB's 0.74x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CLB scores 6/9 vs LBRT's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CLBCore Laboratories… | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.3% | +7.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.2% | +4.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.3% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.9% | +3.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.74x | 0.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $183M | $846M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $23M | $28M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $206M | $873M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.18x | 5.24x |
CLB leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LBRT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LBRT five years ago would be worth $19,298 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,851 for CLB. Over the past 12 months, LBRT leads with a +112.2% total return vs CLB's +5.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LBRT at 27.2% vs CLB's -17.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CLBCore Laboratories… | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -24.8% | +49.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +5.3% | +112.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.8% | +105.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -71.5% | +93.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -83.0% | +73.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.0% | +27.2% |
LBRT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CLB and LBRT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CLB is the less volatile stock with a 0.96 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LBRT's 1.21 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LBRT currently trades 81.4% from its 52-week high vs CLB's 62.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CLBCore Laboratories… | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 1.21x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.36 | $34.48 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.72 | $9.90 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +62.5% | +81.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.2 | 42.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 445K | 3.2M |
Evenly matched — CLB and LBRT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
LBRT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CLB as "Hold" and LBRT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 96.5% upside for CLB (target: $25) vs 23.7% for LBRT (target: $35). For income investors, LBRT offers the higher dividend yield at 1.17% vs CLB's 0.32%.
| Metric | CLBCore Laboratories… | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $25.00 | $34.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 37 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.04 | $0.33 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.1% | +0.5% |
LBRT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
CLB leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). LBRT leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallCore Laboratories N.V. (CLB)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CLB vs LBRT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CLB or LBRT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Core Laboratories N.
V. (CLB) is the stronger pick with 0. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT). Core Laboratories N. V. (CLB) offers the better valuation at 18. 7x trailing P/E (21. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) a "Buy" — based on 19 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CLB or LBRT?
On trailing P/E, Core Laboratories N.
V. (CLB) is the cheapest at 18. 7x versus Liberty Energy Inc. at 31. 5x. On forward P/E, Core Laboratories N. V. is actually cheaper at 21. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CLB or LBRT?
Over the past 5 years, Liberty Energy Inc.
(LBRT) delivered a total return of +93. 0%, compared to -71. 5% for Core Laboratories N. V. (CLB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LBRT returned +73. 5% versus CLB's -83. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CLB or LBRT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Core Laboratories N.
V. (CLB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 96β versus Liberty Energy Inc. 's 1. 21β — meaning LBRT is approximately 26% more volatile than CLB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 74% for Core Laboratories N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CLB or LBRT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Core Laboratories N.
V. (CLB) is pulling ahead at 0. 5% versus -7. 2% for Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Core Laboratories N. V. grew EPS 3. 0% year-over-year, compared to -52. 4% for Liberty Energy Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CLB leads at 2. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CLB or LBRT?
Core Laboratories N.
V. (CLB) is the more profitable company, earning 6. 0% net margin versus 3. 7% for Liberty Energy Inc. — meaning it keeps 6. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CLB leads at 9. 3% versus 2. 0% for LBRT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CLB leads at 17. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CLB or LBRT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Core Laboratories N.
V. (CLB) trades at 21. 2x forward P/E versus 105. 2x for Liberty Energy Inc. — 84. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CLB: 96. 5% to $25. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — CLB or LBRT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) offers the highest yield at 1. 2%, versus 0. 3% for Core Laboratories N. V. (CLB).
09Is CLB or LBRT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Liberty Energy Inc.
(LBRT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 21), 1. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LBRT: +73. 5%, CLB: -83. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CLB and LBRT?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
LBRT pays a dividend while CLB does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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