Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) vs ConocoPhillips (COP) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | COP | 9.3% revenue growth vs CTRA's -49.6% |
| Value | CTRA | Lower P/E (14.6x vs 23.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | CTRA | 62.4% net margin vs COP's 13.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CTRA | Beta 0.63 vs COP's 0.99, lower leverage |
| Dividends | COP | 2.9% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs CTRA's 2.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | COP | +17.7% vs CTRA's +16.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CTRA | 7.7% ROA vs COP's 6.5%, ROIC 11.4% vs 10.7% |
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
Coterra Energy is an independent oil and gas producer focused on developing natural gas and crude oil reserves across premier U.S. shale basins. It generates revenue primarily from selling natural gas (roughly 60% of production) and crude oil/liquids (roughly 40%), with its largest operations in the Marcellus Shale and Permian Basin. The company's competitive advantage lies in its low-cost, high-quality asset portfolio across multiple basins — particularly its core Marcellus position — which provides operational flexibility and resilience across commodity price cycles.
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.
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
CTRA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). COP leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
COP is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.7B annually — 21.7x CTRA's $2.8B. CTRA is the more profitable business, keeping 62.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to COP's 13.3%.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.8B | $59.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.8B | $23.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.7B | $7.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.2B | $16.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.4% | +35.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +89.1% | +19.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +62.4% | +13.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +81.0% | +28.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.9% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +20.0% | -38.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 13.6x trailing earnings, CTRA trades at a 24% valuation discount to COP's 17.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CTRA's 4.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than COP's 6.7x.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $23.2B | $139.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $23.3B | $156.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.60x | 17.90x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.65x | 23.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.39x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.84x | 6.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.44x | 2.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.36x | 2.11x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.77x | 8.29x |
Profitability & Efficiency
COP delivers a 12.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $10 for CTRA. CTRA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x 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 CTRA's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.0% | +12.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.7% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.4% | +10.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.9% | +10.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $136M | $16.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $114M | $6.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $250M | $23.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.24x | 11.99x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in COP five years ago would be worth $24,904 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,613 for CTRA. Over the past 12 months, COP leads with a +17.7% total return vs CTRA's +16.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CTRA at 10.3% vs COP's 6.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.0% | +18.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.6% | +17.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.1% | +20.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.1% | +149.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +90.4% | +306.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.3% | +6.3% |
Risk & Volatility
CTRA is the less volatile stock with a 0.63 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. COP currently trades 99.7% from its 52-week high vs CTRA's 93.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.63x | 0.99x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.67 | $113.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.33 | $79.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.6% | +99.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.6 | 62.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 9.3M | 7.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CTRA as "Buy" and COP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 5.9% upside for CTRA (target: $32) vs 2.9% for COP (target: $117). For income investors, COP offers the higher dividend yield at 2.94% vs CTRA's 2.93%.
| Metric | CTRACoterra Energy In… | COPConocoPhillips |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $32.40 | $116.79 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 55 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.9% | +2.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.90 | $3.34 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | 100 | 191.13 | +91.1% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 100 | 206.76 | +106.8% |
ConocoPhillips (COP) returned +149% over 5 years vs Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA)'s +96%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | $1.2B | $2.8B | +130.3% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | $23.9B | $59.7B | +149.8% |
Coterra Energy Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.2B (2016) to $2.8B (2025) — a 9.7% CAGR. ConocoPhillips's revenue grew from $23.9B (2016) to $59.7B (2025) — a 10.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | -34.9% | 62.4% | +278.8% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -15.1% | 13.3% | +187.8% |
Coterra Energy Inc.'s net margin went from -35% (2016) to 62% (2025). ConocoPhillips's net margin went from -15% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | 130 | 11.7 | -91.0% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | 11.7 | 14.8 | +26.5% |
Coterra Energy Inc. has traded in a 5x–130x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x. ConocoPhillips has traded in a 8x–15x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) | -0.91 | 2.25 | +347.3% |
| ConocoPhillips (COP) | -2.9 | 6.34 | +318.6% |
Coterra Energy Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.91 (2016) to $2.25 (2025). ConocoPhillips's EPS grew from $-2.90 (2016) to $6.34 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Coterra Energy Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+328% vs 2021). ConocoPhillips generated $17B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021).
CTRA vs COP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CTRA or COP a better buy right now?
Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) offers the better valuation at 13.6x trailing P/E (14.6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) a "Buy" — based on 55 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 — CTRA or COP?
On trailing P/E, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the cheapest at 13.6x versus ConocoPhillips at 17.9x. On forward P/E, Coterra Energy Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CTRA or COP?
Over the past 5 years, ConocoPhillips (COP) delivered a total return of +149.0%, compared to +96.1% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). 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 CTRA's +90.4%. 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 — CTRA or COP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.63β versus ConocoPhillips's 0.99β — meaning COP is approximately 56% more volatile than CTRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 36% for ConocoPhillips — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CTRA or COP?
Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the more profitable company, earning 62.4% net margin versus 13.3% for ConocoPhillips — meaning it keeps 62.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRA leads at 89.1% versus 19.8% for COP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRA leads at 60.4%, 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.
06Is CTRA or COP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) trades at 14.6x forward P/E versus 23.0x for ConocoPhillips — 8.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTRA: 5.9% to $32.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — CTRA or COP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. ConocoPhillips (COP) offers the highest yield at 2.9%, versus 2.9% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA).
08Is CTRA or COP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.63), 2.9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRA: +90.4%, COP: +306.3%), 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 CTRA and COP?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.