KOS
Kosmos Energy Ltd.
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$1.46B
5Y Perf.+58.8%
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Stock Comparison
KOS vs SM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SM
SM Energy Company
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$3.28B
5Y Perf.+711.1%
KOS vs SM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KOS | SM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $1.46B | $3.28B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.37B | $3.15B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-815M | $648M |
| Gross Margin | 0.7% | 31.9% |
| Operating Margin | -7.2% | 26.1% |
| Forward P/E | 160.6x | 4.3x |
| Total Debt | $3.06B | $2.30B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $92M | $368M |
KOS vs SM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KOS
SM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS) | 100 | 158.8 | +58.8% |
| SM Energy Company (SM) | 100 | 811.1 | +711.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KOS vs SM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SM leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Kosmos Energy Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
KOS
Kosmos Energy Ltd.
The Momentum Pick
KOS is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +87.7% vs SM's +36.5%
Best for: momentum
SM
SM Energy Company
The Income Pick
SM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.16, yield 2.8%
- Rev growth 18.1%, EPS growth -15.4%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.9%
- 118.0% 10Y total return vs KOS's -41.4%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SM | 18.1% revenue growth vs KOS's -22.5% |
| Value | SM | Lower P/E (4.3x vs 160.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | SM | 20.5% margin vs KOS's -59.4% |
| Stability / Safety | SM | Beta 0.16 vs KOS's 0.49, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SM | 2.8% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | KOS | +87.7% vs SM's +36.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SM | 7.2% ROA vs KOS's -16.5%, ROIC 8.9% vs -5.5% |
KOS vs SM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
KOS vs SM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSMLAGGINGKOS
KOSKosmos Energy Ltd.
0leads
SMSM Energy Company
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KOSMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SM4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SM4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SM9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SM4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
SM1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SM is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 2.3x KOS's $1.4B. SM is the more profitable business, keeping 20.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KOS's -59.4%. On growth, KOS holds the edge at +27.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.4B | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $227M | $2.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$815M | $648M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $17M | -$241M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +0.7% | +31.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -7.2% | +26.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -59.4% | +20.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | -7.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.8% | -14.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -95.7% | -41.7% |
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, SM's 2.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KOS's 13.7x.
| Metric | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.4B | $5.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.97x | 5.06x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 160.56x | 4.34x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.74x | 2.57x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.13x | 1.04x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.62x | 0.68x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.73x |
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SM leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SM delivers a 14.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-110 for KOS. SM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.48x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KOS's 5.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SM scores 7/9 vs KOS's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -110.1% | +14.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -16.5% | +7.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -5.5% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.1% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.80x | 0.48x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.0B | $1.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $92M | $368M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.1B | $2.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.38x | 2.92x |
SM leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SM five years ago would be worth $18,422 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,897 for KOS. Over the past 12 months, KOS leads with a +87.7% total return vs SM's +36.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SM at 5.3% vs KOS's -23.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +224.7% | +50.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +87.7% | +36.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -54.4% | +16.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.0% | +84.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -41.4% | +118.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -23.0% | +5.3% |
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KOS and SM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SM is the less volatile stock with a 0.16 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KOS's 0.49 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.49x | 0.16x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.32 | $33.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.84 | $17.45 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.0% | +85.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 61.4 | 60.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 26.8M | 5.9M |
Evenly matched — KOS and SM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
SM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KOS as "Buy" and SM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 1.6% upside for SM (target: $29) vs -16.3% for KOS (target: $2). SM is the only dividend payer here at 2.80% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | KOSKosmos Energy Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $2.42 | $29.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 54 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% |
SM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
SM leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallSM Energy Company (SM)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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KOS vs SM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KOS or SM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, SM Energy Company (SM) is the stronger pick with 18.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 5% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS). SM Energy Company (SM) offers the better valuation at 5. 1x trailing P/E (4. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — KOS or SM?
On forward P/E, SM Energy Company is actually cheaper at 4.
3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KOS or SM?
Over the past 5 years, SM Energy Company (SM) delivered a total return of +84.
2%, compared to -1. 0% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SM returned +118. 0% versus KOS's -41. 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 — KOS or SM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SM Energy Company (SM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
16β versus Kosmos Energy Ltd. 's 0. 49β — meaning KOS is approximately 197% more volatile than SM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SM Energy Company (SM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% versus 6% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KOS or SM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SM Energy Company (SM) is pulling ahead at 18.
1% versus -22. 5% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. (KOS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SM Energy Company grew EPS -15. 4% year-over-year, compared to -467. 5% for Kosmos Energy Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SM leads at -1. 9% 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 — KOS or SM?
SM Energy Company (SM) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
5% net margin versus -53. 9% for Kosmos Energy Ltd. — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SM leads at 26. 1% versus -20. 9% for KOS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SM leads at 31. 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 KOS or SM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SM Energy Company (SM) trades at 4.
3x forward P/E versus 160. 6x for Kosmos Energy Ltd. — 156. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SM: 1. 6% to $29. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — KOS or SM?
In this comparison, SM (2.
8% yield) pays a dividend. KOS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is KOS or SM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SM Energy Company (SM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
16), 2. 8% yield, +118. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SM: +118. 0%, KOS: -41. 4%), 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 KOS and SM?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: KOS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SM is a small-cap high-growth stock. SM pays a dividend while KOS 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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