BTU vs XOM

For growth investors, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the stronger pick with -4.

5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 9% for Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU). Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the better valuation at 22. 2x trailing P/E (15. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU) a "Hold" — based on 33 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, Peabody Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 8.

2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU) delivered a total return of +461.

0%, compared to +171. 8% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XOM returned +107. 4% versus BTU's -7. 2%. 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), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

15β versus Peabody Energy Corporation's 0. 18β — meaning BTU is approximately -225% more volatile than XOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 16% for Exxon Mobil Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is pulling ahead at -4.

5% versus -8. 9% for Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Exxon Mobil Corporation grew EPS -14. 5% year-over-year, compared to -115. 9% for Peabody Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, XOM leads at -6. 7% 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.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

9% net margin versus -1. 4% for Peabody Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XOM leads at 10. 5% versus 0. 0% for BTU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XOM leads at 21. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU) trades at 8.

2x forward P/E versus 15. 0x for Exxon Mobil Corporation — 6. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BTU: 46. 2% to $36. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 1. 2% for Peabody Energy Corporation (BTU).

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

15), 2. 7% yield, +107. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOM: +107. 4%, BTU: -7. 2%), 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.

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.