RIG
Transocean Ltd.
Oil & Gas Drilling
Market Cap$5.78B
5Y Perf.+41.6%
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Stock Comparison
RIG vs NE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NE
Noble Corporation Plc
Oil & Gas Drilling
Market Cap$8.00B
5Y Perf.+102.7%
RIG vs NE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | RIG | NE |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Drilling | Oil & Gas Drilling |
| Market Cap | $5.78B | $8.00B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $4.14B | $3.20B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-2.77B | $229M |
| Gross Margin | 70.2% | 22.4% |
| Operating Margin | 22.4% | 16.8% |
| Forward P/E | 33.8x | 46.6x |
| Total Debt | $5.66B | $1.98B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $997M | $471M |
RIG vs NE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RIG
NE
| Stock | Jun 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transocean Ltd. (RIG) | 100 | 141.6 | +41.6% |
| Noble Corporation P… (NE) | 100 | 202.7 | +102.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RIG vs NE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Transocean Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
RIG
Transocean Ltd.
The Growth Play
RIG is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 12.5%, EPS growth -406.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 15.5%
- 12.5% revenue growth vs NE's 7.4%
- Lower P/E (33.8x vs 46.6x)
Best for: growth exposure
NE
Noble Corporation Plc
The Income Pick
NE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.91, yield 4.0%
- 124.8% 10Y total return vs RIG's -35.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.91, Low D/E 43.4%, current ratio 1.67x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RIG | 12.5% revenue growth vs NE's 7.4% |
| Value | RIG | Lower P/E (33.8x vs 46.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | NE | 7.2% margin vs RIG's -66.8% |
| Stability / Safety | NE | Beta 0.91 vs RIG's 1.13, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NE | 4.0% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | RIG | +156.0% vs NE's +124.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NE | 3.0% ROA vs RIG's -17.1%, ROIC 6.2% vs 3.6% |
RIG vs NE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2019
FY 2025
RIG vs NE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNELAGGINGRIG
RIGTransocean Ltd.
2leads
NENoble Corporation Plc
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs RIGMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RIG5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RIG6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NE8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NE5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NE2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NE1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RIG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RIG and NE operate at a comparable scale, with $4.1B and $3.2B in trailing revenue. NE is the more profitable business, keeping 7.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RIG's -66.8%. On growth, RIG holds the edge at +19.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | RIGTransocean Ltd. | NENoble Corporation… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.1B | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$2.8B | $229M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $796M | $444M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.2% | +22.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +22.4% | +16.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -66.8% | +7.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.2% | +13.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +19.3% | -10.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +157.5% | +11.9% |
RIG leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RIG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, RIG's 7.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NE's 8.6x.
| Metric | RIGTransocean Ltd. | NENoble Corporation… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.8B | $8.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $10.4B | $9.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.11x | 37.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 33.76x | 46.59x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.65x | 8.63x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.46x | 2.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.76x | 1.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 9.23x | 18.50x |
RIG leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NE leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NE delivers a 5.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $-33 for RIG. NE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.43x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RIG's 0.70x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RIG scores 6/9 vs NE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | RIGTransocean Ltd. | NENoble Corporation… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -32.8% | +5.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -17.1% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.6% | +6.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.4% | +7.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | 0.43x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4.7B | $1.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $997M | $471M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.7B | $2.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -3.06x | 3.26x |
NE leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NE five years ago would be worth $22,481 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,842 for RIG. Over the past 12 months, RIG leads with a +156.0% total return vs NE's +124.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NE at 14.5% vs RIG's 2.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RIGTransocean Ltd. | NENoble Corporation… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +50.9% | +74.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +156.0% | +124.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.5% | +50.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +68.4% | +124.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -35.7% | +124.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.1% | +14.5% |
NE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NE is the less volatile stock with a 0.91 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RIG's 1.13 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | RIGTransocean Ltd. | NENoble Corporation… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.13x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.14 | $54.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.34 | $22.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.6% | +91.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.9 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 33.6M | 1.6M |
NE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RIG as "Hold" and NE as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 3.6% upside for RIG (target: $7) vs -8.7% for NE (target: $46). NE is the only dividend payer here at 3.99% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | RIGTransocean Ltd. | NENoble Corporation… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.63 | $45.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 64 | 51 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +4.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
NE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NE leads in 4 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). RIG leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallNoble Corporation Plc (NE)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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RIG vs NE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RIG or NE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Transocean Ltd.
(RIG) is the stronger pick with 12. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 4% for Noble Corporation Plc (NE). Noble Corporation Plc (NE) offers the better valuation at 37. 1x trailing P/E (46. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Transocean Ltd. (RIG) a "Hold" — based on 64 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 — RIG or NE?
On forward P/E, Transocean Ltd.
is actually cheaper at 33. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RIG or NE?
Over the past 5 years, Noble Corporation Plc (NE) delivered a total return of +124.
8%, compared to +68. 4% for Transocean Ltd. (RIG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NE returned +124. 8% versus RIG's -35. 7%. 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 — RIG or NE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Noble Corporation Plc (NE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
91β versus Transocean Ltd. 's 1. 13β — meaning RIG is approximately 24% more volatile than NE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Noble Corporation Plc (NE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 43% versus 70% for Transocean Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RIG or NE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Transocean Ltd.
(RIG) is pulling ahead at 12. 5% versus 7. 4% for Noble Corporation Plc (NE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Noble Corporation Plc grew EPS -54. 4% year-over-year, compared to -406. 7% for Transocean Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NE leads at 32. 5% 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 — RIG or NE?
Noble Corporation Plc (NE) is the more profitable company, earning 6.
6% net margin versus -73. 5% for Transocean Ltd. — meaning it keeps 6. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RIG leads at 17. 8% versus 15. 7% for NE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RIG leads at 83. 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.
07Is RIG or NE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Transocean Ltd.
(RIG) trades at 33. 8x forward P/E versus 46. 6x for Noble Corporation Plc — 12. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RIG: 3. 6% to $6. 63.
08Which pays a better dividend — RIG or NE?
In this comparison, NE (4.
0% yield) pays a dividend. RIG does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is RIG or NE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Noble Corporation Plc (NE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
91), 4. 0% yield, +124. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NE: +124. 8%, RIG: -35. 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.
10What are the main differences between RIG and NE?
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: RIG is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NE is a small-cap income-oriented stock. NE pays a dividend while RIG 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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