SM
SM Energy Company
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$3.35B
5Y Perf.+726.7%
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Stock Comparison
SM vs MTDR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MTDR
Matador Resources Company
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$6.90B
5Y Perf.+608.8%
SM vs MTDR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SM | MTDR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $3.35B | $6.90B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.79B | $3.36B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $131M | $483M |
| Gross Margin | 45.1% | 102.0% |
| Operating Margin | 6.5% | 26.3% |
| Forward P/E | 4.4x | 7.7x |
| Total Debt | $2.30B | $3.55B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $368M | $79M |
SM vs MTDR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SM
MTDR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM Energy Company (SM) | 100 | 826.7 | +726.7% |
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | 100 | 708.8 | +608.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SM vs MTDR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MTDR leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. SM Energy Company 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.
SM
SM Energy Company
The Growth Play
SM is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 18.1%, EPS growth -15.4%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.9%
- 18.1% revenue growth vs MTDR's 5.1%
- Lower P/E (4.4x vs 7.7x)
Best for: growth exposure
MTDR
Matador Resources Company
The Income Pick
MTDR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.06, yield 2.4%
- 201.8% 10Y total return vs SM's 132.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.06, Low D/E 59.2%, current ratio 0.79x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SM | 18.1% revenue growth vs MTDR's 5.1% |
| Value | SM | Lower P/E (4.4x vs 7.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | MTDR | 14.4% margin vs SM's 3.4% |
| Stability / Safety | MTDR | Beta 0.06 vs SM's 0.16 |
| Dividends | SM | 2.7% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs MTDR's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MTDR | +42.2% vs SM's +41.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MTDR | 4.1% ROA vs SM's 1.1%, ROIC 10.5% vs 8.9% |
SM vs MTDR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SM vs MTDR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMTDRLAGGINGSM
SMSM Energy Company
1leads
MTDRMatador Resources Com…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MTDR5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SM6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MTDR5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MTDR5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SM and MTDR operate at a comparable scale, with $3.8B and $3.4B in trailing revenue. MTDR is the more profitable business, keeping 14.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SM's 3.4%. On growth, SM holds the edge at +76.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.8B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.6B | $2.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $131M | $483M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$226M | $518M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +45.1% | +102.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +6.5% | +26.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | +14.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +76.2% | -33.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.1% | -115.1% |
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.2x trailing earnings, SM trades at a 43% valuation discount to MTDR's 9.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SM's 2.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MTDR's 4.3x.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $6.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $10.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.16x | 9.12x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4.42x | 7.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.60x | 4.34x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.06x | 1.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.70x | 1.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.84x | 28.57x |
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MTDR delivers a 8.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $2 for SM. SM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.48x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MTDR's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SM scores 7/9 vs MTDR's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.5% | +8.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +4.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.9% | +10.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +11.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.48x | 0.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.9B | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $368M | $79M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.3B | $3.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.37x | 7.88x |
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MTDR five years ago would be worth $20,548 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $17,892 for SM. Over the past 12 months, MTDR leads with a +42.2% total return vs SM's +41.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MTDR at 9.1% vs SM's 5.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +53.3% | +29.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +41.1% | +42.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.7% | +29.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +78.9% | +105.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +132.6% | +201.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.9% | +9.1% |
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SM and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MTDR is the less volatile stock with a 0.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SM's 0.16 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SM currently trades 87.5% from its 52-week high vs MTDR's 83.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.16x | 0.06x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $33.25 | $66.84 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $17.45 | $37.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +87.5% | +83.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.4 | 43.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.9M | 1.8M |
Evenly matched — SM and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SM and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SM as "Buy" and MTDR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.9% upside for MTDR (target: $68) vs -0.3% for SM (target: $29). For income investors, SM offers the higher dividend yield at 2.75% vs MTDR's 2.36%.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.00 | $68.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 54 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | $1.31 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +0.8% |
Evenly matched — SM and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
MTDR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). SM leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallMatador Resources Company (MTDR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SM vs MTDR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SM or MTDR 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 5. 1% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). SM Energy Company (SM) offers the better valuation at 5. 2x trailing P/E (4. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SM Energy Company (SM) a "Buy" — based on 54 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 — SM or MTDR?
On trailing P/E, SM Energy Company (SM) is the cheapest at 5.
2x versus Matador Resources Company at 9. 1x. On forward P/E, SM Energy Company is actually cheaper at 4. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SM or MTDR?
Over the past 5 years, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) delivered a total return of +105.
5%, compared to +78. 9% for SM Energy Company (SM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTDR returned +201. 8% versus SM's +132. 6%. 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 — SM or MTDR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
06β versus SM Energy Company's 0. 16β — meaning SM is approximately 165% more volatile than MTDR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SM Energy Company (SM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% versus 59% for Matador Resources Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SM or MTDR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SM Energy Company (SM) is pulling ahead at 18.
1% versus 5. 1% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Matador Resources Company grew EPS -14. 7% year-over-year, compared to -15. 4% for SM Energy Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTDR leads at 6. 1% 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 — SM or MTDR?
Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
8% net margin versus 20. 5% for SM Energy Company — meaning it keeps 20. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTDR leads at 32. 5% versus 26. 1% for SM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTDR leads at 43. 7%, 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 SM or MTDR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SM Energy Company (SM) trades at 4.
4x forward P/E versus 7. 7x for Matador Resources Company — 3. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTDR: 22. 9% to $68. 29.
08Which pays a better dividend — SM or MTDR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
SM Energy Company (SM) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 2. 4% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR).
09Is SM or MTDR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
06), 2. 4% yield, +201. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTDR: +201. 8%, SM: +132. 6%), 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 SM and MTDR?
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: SM is a small-cap high-growth stock; MTDR is a small-cap deep-value 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.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(SM: 76.2% · MTDR: -33.2%)Net Margin>
%
(SM: 3.4% · MTDR: 14.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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