Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare ConocoPhillips (COP) vs Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COP | 9.3% revenue growth vs OXY's -20.3% |
| Value | COP | Lower P/E (23.0x vs 43.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | COP | 13.3% net margin vs OXY's 9.2% |
| Stability / Safety | OXY | Beta 0.95 vs COP's 0.99, lower leverage |
| Dividends | OXY | 3.0% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs COP's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COP | +17.7% vs OXY's +10.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | COP | 6.5% ROA vs OXY's 2.7%, ROIC 10.7% vs 5.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
ConocoPhillips is a global independent exploration and production company that finds, produces, and sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. It generates revenue primarily from selling hydrocarbons produced from its diverse portfolio — including unconventional shale plays in North America, conventional assets worldwide, and oil sands in Canada — with no refining or marketing operations. The company's competitive advantage lies in its low-cost position, large-scale resource base, and operational expertise across multiple geographies and resource types.
Occidental Petroleum is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with operations spanning the United States, Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It generates revenue primarily from its Oil and Gas segment — which contributes the majority of earnings — along with its Chemical manufacturing and Midstream marketing operations. The company's key advantage lies in its extensive, geographically diverse asset portfolio and its leadership in carbon capture technology through its Oxy Low Carbon Ventures division.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
COP leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). OXY leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COP is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.7B annually — 2.4x OXY's $25.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.3% (COP) to 9.2% (OXY). On growth, COP holds the edge at -0.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | COPConocoPhillips | OXYOccidental Petrol… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $59.7B | $25.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $23.2B | $11.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $7.9B | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $16.8B | $4.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.2% | +29.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.8% | +14.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.3% | +9.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +28.1% | +16.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.3% | -26.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -38.4% | +77.8% |
Valuation Metrics
At 17.9x trailing earnings, COP trades at a 46% valuation discount to OXY's 33.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, OXY's 4.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COP's 6.7x.
| Metric | COPConocoPhillips | OXYOccidental Petrol… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $139.0B | $52.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $156.0B | $52.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.90x | 32.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.03x | 43.77x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.71x | 4.58x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.33x | 2.42x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.11x | 1.45x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.29x | 12.74x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COP delivers a 12.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $6 for OXY. OXY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to COP's 0.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), COP scores 7/9 vs OXY's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | COPConocoPhillips | OXYOccidental Petrol… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.3% | +6.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +2.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.7% | +5.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.7% | +4.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.36x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $16.9B | $1.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6.5B | $2.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $23.4B | $1.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.99x | 4.14x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in COP five years ago would be worth $24,904 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $20,333 for OXY. Over the past 12 months, COP leads with a +17.7% total return vs OXY's +10.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors COP at 6.3% vs OXY's -1.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | COPConocoPhillips | OXYOccidental Petrol… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.2% | +25.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +17.7% | +10.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.0% | -5.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +149.0% | +103.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +306.3% | +0.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.3% | -1.7% |
Risk & Volatility
OXY is the less volatile stock with a 0.95 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than COP's 0.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | COPConocoPhillips | OXYOccidental Petrol… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.99x | 0.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $113.80 | $53.33 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $79.88 | $34.78 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.7% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.7 | 66.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7.0M | 9.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates COP as "Buy" and OXY as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.9% upside for COP (target: $117) vs -2.0% for OXY (target: $52). For income investors, OXY offers the higher dividend yield at 3.00% vs COP's 2.94%.
| Metric | COPConocoPhillips | OXYOccidental Petrol… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $116.79 | $52.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 52 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.34 | $1.59 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.6% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 100 | 206.76 | +106.8% |
| Occidental Petroleu… (OXY) | 100 | 132.93 | +32.9% |
ConocoPhillips (COP) returned +149% over 5 years vs Occidental Petroleu… (OXY)'s +103%. A $10,000 investment in COP 5 years ago would be worth $24,904 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | $23.9B | $59.7B | +149.8% |
| Occidental Petroleu… (OXY) | $10.1B | $21.6B | +113.9% |
ConocoPhillips's revenue grew from $23.9B (2016) to $59.7B (2025) — a 10.7% CAGR. Occidental Petroleum Corporation's revenue grew from $10.1B (2016) to $21.6B (2025) — a 8.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -15.1% | 13.3% | +187.8% |
| Occidental Petroleu… (OXY) | -5.7% | 11.0% | +292.9% |
ConocoPhillips's net margin went from -15% (2016) to 13% (2025). Occidental Petroleum Corporation's net margin went from -6% (2016) to 11% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 11.7 | 14.8 | +26.5% |
| Occidental Petroleu… (OXY) | 43.3 | 25.5 | -41.1% |
ConocoPhillips has traded in a 8x–15x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. Occidental Petroleum Corporation has traded in a 5x–43x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~33x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -2.9 | 6.34 | +318.6% |
| Occidental Petroleu… (OXY) | -0.75 | 1.61 | +314.7% |
ConocoPhillips's EPS grew from $-2.90 (2016) to $6.34 (2025). Occidental Petroleum Corporation's EPS grew from $-0.75 (2016) to $1.61 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
ConocoPhillips generated $17B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021). Occidental Petroleum Corporation generated $4B FCF in 2025 (-46% vs 2021).
COP vs OXY: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is COP or OXY a better buy right now?
ConocoPhillips (COP) offers the better valuation at 17.9x trailing P/E (23.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ConocoPhillips (COP) a "Buy" — based on 52 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 — COP or OXY?
On trailing P/E, ConocoPhillips (COP) is the cheapest at 17.9x versus Occidental Petroleum Corporation at 33.0x. On forward P/E, ConocoPhillips is actually cheaper at 23.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — COP or OXY?
Over the past 5 years, ConocoPhillips (COP) delivered a total return of +149.0%, compared to +103.3% for Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY). A $10,000 investment in COP five years ago would be worth approximately $25K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: COP returned +306.3% versus OXY's +0.8%. 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 — COP or OXY?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.95β versus ConocoPhillips's 0.99β — meaning COP is approximately 3% more volatile than OXY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 36% for ConocoPhillips — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — COP or OXY?
ConocoPhillips (COP) is the more profitable company, earning 13.3% net margin versus 11.0% for Occidental Petroleum Corporation — meaning it keeps 13.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: COP leads at 19.8% versus 17.2% for OXY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — COP leads at 35.2%, 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.
06Is COP or OXY more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ConocoPhillips (COP) trades at 23.0x forward P/E versus 43.8x for Occidental Petroleum Corporation — 20.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for COP: 2.9% to $116.79.
07Which pays a better dividend — COP or OXY?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 2.9% for ConocoPhillips (COP).
08Is COP or OXY better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ConocoPhillips (COP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.99), 2.9% yield, +306.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (COP: +306.3%, OXY: +0.8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between COP and OXY?
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: COP is a mid-cap deep-value stock; OXY is a mid-cap income-oriented 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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