PAM vs YPF

For growth investors, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) is the stronger pick with 48.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 3% for Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM). Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM) offers the better valuation at 7. 4x trailing P/E (9. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM) a "Buy" — based on 8 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.

On forward P/E, YPF Sociedad Anónima is actually cheaper at 0.

0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) delivered a total return of +1047%, compared to +515.

5% for Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PAM returned +268. 7% versus YPF's +117. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

51β versus Pampa Energía S. A. 's 0. 96β — meaning PAM is approximately 89% more volatile than YPF relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 64% versus 101% for YPF Sociedad Anónima — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) is pulling ahead at 48.

3% versus 8. 3% for Pampa Energía S. A. (PAM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pampa Energía S. A. grew EPS 429. 4% year-over-year, compared to -149. 6% for YPF Sociedad Anónima. Over a 3-year CAGR, YPF leads at 119. 0% 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.

Pampa Energía S.

A. (PAM) is the more profitable company, earning 33. 0% net margin versus -4. 5% for YPF Sociedad Anónima — meaning it keeps 33. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PAM leads at 23. 5% versus 8. 9% for YPF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PAM leads at 31. 8%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) trades at 0.

0x forward P/E versus 9. 3x for Pampa Energía S. A. — 9. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PAM: 16. 3% to $97. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

51), +117. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (YPF: +117. 6%, PAM: +268. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (PAM (Utilities) and YPF (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: PAM is a small-cap deep-value stock; YPF is a mid-cap high-growth stock. 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.