Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) vs ConocoPhillips (COP) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | EXE | 187.2% revenue growth vs COP's 9.3% |
| Value | EXE | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 23.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | EXE | 15.0% net margin vs COP's 13.3% |
| Stability / Safety | EXE | Beta 0.49 vs COP's 0.99 |
| Dividends | EXE | 100.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs COP's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COP | +17.7% vs EXE's +11.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COP | 6.5% ROA vs EXE's 6.4%, ROIC 10.7% vs 7.4% |
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
Expand Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on unconventional natural gas resources in the United States. It generates revenue primarily from natural gas sales — with additional contributions from oil and natural gas liquids — through its extensive portfolio of approximately 5,000 wells across key shale plays like the Marcellus and Haynesville formations. The company's competitive advantage lies in its large-scale, low-cost position in premier natural gas basins and its operational expertise in unconventional resource development.
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
EXE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). COP leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COP is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.7B annually — 4.9x EXE's $12.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 15.0% (EXE) to 13.3% (COP). On growth, EXE holds the edge at +63.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EXEExpand Energy Cor… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $12.1B | $59.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.3B | $23.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.8B | $7.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.8B | $16.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.4% | +35.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.8% | +19.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.0% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +28.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +63.7% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.3% | -38.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 14.3x trailing earnings, EXE trades at a 20% valuation discount to COP's 17.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, EXE's 5.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COP's 6.7x.
| Metric | EXEExpand Energy Cor… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.7B | $139.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $25.1B | $156.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.26x | 17.90x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.05x | 23.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.00x | 6.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.12x | 2.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.00x | 2.11x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.98x | 8.29x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COP delivers a 12.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $10 for EXE. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), EXE scores 8/9 vs COP's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | EXEExpand Energy Cor… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.8% | +12.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.4% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.4% | +10.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +8.1% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$616M | $16.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $616M | $6.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $23.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.91x | 11.99x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EXE five years ago would be worth $28,500 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,904 for COP. Over the past 12 months, COP leads with a +17.7% total return vs EXE's +11.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors EXE at 13.0% vs COP's 6.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EXEExpand Energy Cor… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -1.7% | +18.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +11.8% | +17.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +44.3% | +20.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +185.0% | +149.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +197.4% | +306.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.0% | +6.3% |
Risk & Volatility
EXE is the less volatile stock with a 0.49 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. COP currently trades 99.7% from its 52-week high vs EXE's 85.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | EXEExpand Energy Cor… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.49x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $126.62 | $113.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $91.02 | $79.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.2% | +99.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 62.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.9M | 7.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EXE as "Buy" and COP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 27.7% upside for EXE (target: $138) vs 2.9% for COP (target: $117). For income investors, EXE offers the higher dividend yield at 100.00% vs COP's 2.94%.
| Metric | EXEExpand Energy Cor… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $137.80 | $116.79 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +100.0% | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3182.59 | $3.34 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +3.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Energy Corpo… (EXE) | 100 | 249.86 | +149.9% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 100 | 193.48 | +93.5% |
Expand Energy Corpo… (EXE) returned +185% over 5 years vs ConocoPhillips (COP)'s +149%. A $10,000 investment in EXE 5 years ago would be worth $28,500 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Energy Corpo… (EXE) | $7.9B | $12.1B | +54.0% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | $23.9B | $59.7B | +149.8% |
Expand Energy Corporation's revenue grew from $7.9B (2016) to $12.1B (2025) — a 4.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Energy Corpo… (EXE) | -55.8% | 15.0% | +126.9% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -15.1% | 13.3% | +187.8% |
Expand Energy Corporation's net margin went from -56% (2016) to 15% (2025). ConocoPhillips's net margin went from -15% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Energy Corpo… (EXE) | 1.2 | 14.6 | +1116.7% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 11.7 | 14.8 | +26.5% |
Expand Energy Corporation has traded in a 1x–15x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expand Energy Corpo… (EXE) | -1,278 | 7.57 | +100.6% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -2.9 | 6.34 | +318.6% |
Expand Energy Corporation's EPS grew from $-1278.00 (2016) to $7.57 (2025). ConocoPhillips's EPS grew from $-2.90 (2016) to $6.34 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Expand Energy Corporation generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+75% vs 2021). ConocoPhillips generated $17B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021).
EXE vs COP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EXE or COP a better buy right now?
Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) offers the better valuation at 14.3x trailing P/E (12.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) 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 — EXE or COP?
On trailing P/E, Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) is the cheapest at 14.3x versus ConocoPhillips at 17.9x. On forward P/E, Expand Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 12.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EXE or COP?
Over the past 5 years, Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) delivered a total return of +185.0%, compared to +149.0% for ConocoPhillips (COP). A $10,000 investment in EXE five years ago would be worth approximately $28K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COP returned +306.3% versus EXE's +197.4%. 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 — EXE or COP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.49β versus ConocoPhillips's 0.99β — meaning COP is approximately 101% more volatile than EXE relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — EXE or COP?
Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) is the more profitable company, earning 15.0% net margin versus 13.3% for ConocoPhillips — meaning it keeps 15.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: COP leads at 19.8% versus 16.8% for EXE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXE leads at 80.4%, 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 EXE or COP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) trades at 12.0x forward P/E versus 23.0x for ConocoPhillips — 11.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXE: 27.7% to $137.80.
07Which pays a better dividend — EXE or COP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) offers the highest yield at 100.0%, versus 2.9% for ConocoPhillips (COP).
08Is EXE or COP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.49), 100.0% yield, +197.4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXE: +197.4%, 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 EXE 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.