Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare EQT Corporation (EQT) vs ConocoPhillips (COP) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EQT | 65.5% revenue growth vs COP's 9.3% |
| Value | EQT | Lower P/E (12.9x vs 23.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | EQT | 23.6% net margin vs COP's 13.3% |
| Stability / Safety | EQT | Beta 0.68 vs COP's 0.99, lower leverage |
| Dividends | EQT | 1.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs COP's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | EQT | +28.8% vs COP's +17.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COP | 6.5% ROA vs EQT's 4.9%, ROIC 10.7% vs 7.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
EQT Corporation is America's largest natural gas producer, focused on developing and operating natural gas assets primarily in the Appalachian Basin. It generates revenue through the sale of natural gas (~85% of revenue) and natural gas liquids (~15%), with production concentrated in the prolific Marcellus and Utica shale formations. The company's competitive advantage stems from its massive, low-cost reserve base—it holds the largest natural gas position in the U.S.—and its operational scale in the most productive gas region.
ConocoPhillips is a global independent exploration and production company that finds, produces, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It generates revenue primarily from selling hydrocarbons produced from its diverse portfolio — including unconventional shale plays in North America, conventional assets worldwide, and oil sands in Canada — with no refining or marketing operations. The company's competitive advantage lies in its low-cost position, large-scale resource base, and operational expertise across multiple geographies and resource types.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
EQT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). COP leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COP is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.7B annually — 6.9x EQT's $8.6B. EQT is the more profitable business, keeping 23.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COP's 13.3%.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.6B | $59.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.8B | $23.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.0B | $7.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.8B | $16.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +97.4% | +35.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +36.7% | +19.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +23.6% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.9% | +28.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.0% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +56.5% | -38.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 16.2x trailing earnings, EQT trades at a 10% valuation discount to COP's 17.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, COP's 6.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than EQT's 7.5x.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.3B | $139.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $46.0B | $156.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.16x | 17.90x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.92x | 23.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.51x | 6.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.43x | 2.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.37x | 2.11x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.51x | 8.29x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COP delivers a 12.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $7 for EQT. EQT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.29x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COP's 0.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), EQT scores 8/9 vs COP's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.5% | +12.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.9% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | +10.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.2% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.29x | 0.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $7.7B | $16.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $111M | $6.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7.8B | $23.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.50x | 11.99x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EQT five years ago would be worth $34,713 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,904 for COP. Over the past 12 months, EQT leads with a +28.8% total return vs COP's +17.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EQT at 24.0% vs COP's 6.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.2% | +18.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +28.8% | +17.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +90.8% | +20.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +247.1% | +149.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +112.1% | +306.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.0% | +6.3% |
Risk & Volatility
EQT is the less volatile stock with a 0.68 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COP's 0.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.68x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $62.23 | $113.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $43.57 | $79.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.7% | +99.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.3 | 62.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8.7M | 7.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EQT as "Buy" and COP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.9% upside for COP (target: $117) vs -33.1% for EQT (target: $41). For income investors, COP offers the higher dividend yield at 2.94% vs EQT's 1.04%.
| Metric | EQTEQT Corporation | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $41.11 | $116.79 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.0% | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.64 | $3.34 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | 100 | 890.24 | +790.2% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 100 | 211.53 | +111.5% |
EQT Corporation (EQT) returned +247% over 5 years vs ConocoPhillips (COP)'s +149%. A $10,000 investment in EQT 5 years ago would be worth $34,713 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | $1.9B | $8.6B | +365.4% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | $23.9B | $59.7B | +149.8% |
EQT Corporation's revenue grew from $1.9B (2016) to $8.6B (2025) — a 18.6% CAGR. ConocoPhillips's revenue grew from $23.9B (2016) to $59.7B (2025) — a 10.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | -24.4% | 26.9% | +210.3% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -15.1% | 13.3% | +187.8% |
EQT Corporation's net margin went from -24% (2016) to 27% (2025). ConocoPhillips's net margin went from -15% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | 3.9 | 14.1 | +261.5% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 11.7 | 14.8 | +26.5% |
EQT Corporation has traded in a 4x–113x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x. ConocoPhillips has traded in a 8x–15x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation (EQT) | -2.71 | 3.8 | +240.2% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -2.9 | 6.34 | +318.6% |
EQT Corporation's EPS grew from $-2.71 (2016) to $3.80 (2025). ConocoPhillips's EPS grew from $-2.90 (2016) to $6.34 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
EQT Corporation generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+367% vs 2021). ConocoPhillips generated $17B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021).
EQT vs COP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EQT or COP a better buy right now?
EQT Corporation (EQT) offers the better valuation at 16.2x trailing P/E (12.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EQT Corporation (EQT) a "Buy" — based on 44 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 — EQT or COP?
On trailing P/E, EQT Corporation (EQT) is the cheapest at 16.2x versus ConocoPhillips at 17.9x. On forward P/E, EQT Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EQT or COP?
Over the past 5 years, EQT Corporation (EQT) delivered a total return of +247.1%, compared to +149.0% for ConocoPhillips (COP). A $10,000 investment in EQT five years ago would be worth approximately $35K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COP returned +306.3% versus EQT's +112.1%. 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 — EQT or COP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), EQT Corporation (EQT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.68β versus ConocoPhillips's 0.99β — meaning COP is approximately 45% more volatile than EQT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EQT Corporation (EQT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 36% for ConocoPhillips — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EQT or COP?
EQT Corporation (EQT) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus 13.3% for ConocoPhillips — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EQT leads at 40.8% versus 19.8% for COP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EQT leads at 97.4%, 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.
06Is EQT or COP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, EQT Corporation (EQT) trades at 12.9x forward P/E versus 23.0x for ConocoPhillips — 10.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COP: 2.9% to $116.79.
07Which pays a better dividend — EQT or COP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. ConocoPhillips (COP) offers the highest yield at 2.9%, versus 1.0% for EQT Corporation (EQT).
08Is EQT or COP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, EQT Corporation (EQT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.68), 1.0% yield, +112.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EQT: +112.1%, COP: +306.3%), 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.
09What are the main differences between EQT and COP?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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