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DEC vs XOM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Oil & Gas Integrated
DEC vs XOM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Energy | Oil & Gas Integrated |
| Market Cap | $1.17B | $647.40B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.41B | $323.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $254M | $28.84B |
| Gross Margin | 21.7% | 21.7% |
| Operating Margin | 8.4% | 10.5% |
| Forward P/E | 8.6x | 15.1x |
| Total Debt | $237M | $43.54B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $30M | $10.68B |
DEC vs XOM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diversified Energy … (DEC) | 100 | 61.1 | -38.9% |
| Exxon Mobil Corpora… (XOM) | 100 | 336.0 | +236.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DEC vs XOM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
DEC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta -0.12, yield 7.1%
- Rev growth 102.7%, EPS growth 346.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -5.7%
- Beta -0.12, yield 7.1%, current ratio 0.60x
XOM is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 108.8% 10Y total return vs DEC's 13.3%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.20, Low D/E 16.3%, current ratio 1.15x
- Lower D/E ratio (16.3% vs 23.8%)
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 102.7% revenue growth vs XOM's -4.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (8.6x vs 15.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 10.5% margin vs XOM's 8.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Lower D/E ratio (16.3% vs 23.8%) | |
| Dividends | 7.1% yield, vs XOM's 2.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +44.5% vs DEC's +24.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.4% ROA vs DEC's 5.2%, ROIC 8.6% vs 10.8% |
DEC vs XOM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
DEC vs XOM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
DEC leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
XOM is the larger business by revenue, generating $323.9B annually — 134.6x DEC's $2.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.5% (DEC) to 8.9% (XOM). On growth, DEC holds the edge at +95.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.4B | $323.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $870M | $59.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $254M | $28.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $376M | $23.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.7% | +21.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | +10.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.5% | +8.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.6% | +7.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +95.7% | -1.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.4% | -11.0% |
Valuation Metrics
DEC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 3.5x trailing earnings, DEC trades at a 85% valuation discount to XOM's 22.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DEC's 2.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than XOM's 11.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $647.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.4B | $680.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 3.52x | 22.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.55x | 15.14x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.09x | 11.35x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.72x | 2.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.21x | 2.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.17x | 27.42x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DEC leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DEC delivers a 37.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $37 in annual profit, vs $11 for XOM. XOM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DEC's 0.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DEC scores 8/9 vs XOM's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +37.1% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.2% | +6.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.8% | +8.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.9% | +8.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.24x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $207M | $32.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $30M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $237M | $43.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.69x | 69.44x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
XOM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in XOM five years ago would be worth $28,075 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,085 for DEC. Over the past 12 months, XOM leads with a +44.5% total return vs DEC's +24.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors XOM at 16.1% vs DEC's -1.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.0% | +25.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +24.7% | +44.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -5.0% | +56.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.2% | +180.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.3% | +108.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.7% | +16.1% |
Risk & Volatility
XOM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
XOM is the less volatile stock with a -0.20 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DEC's -0.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.12x | -0.20x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $18.90 | $176.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.33 | $101.19 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.4% | +86.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.2 | 49.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.0M | 17.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — DEC and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DEC as "Buy" and XOM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 38.4% upside for DEC (target: $22) vs 5.4% for XOM (target: $161). For income investors, DEC offers the higher dividend yield at 7.07% vs XOM's 2.62%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.33 | $161.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 55 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +7.1% | +2.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 26 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.14 | $4.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.5% | +3.1% |
DEC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). XOM leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
DEC vs XOM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DEC or XOM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the stronger pick with 102.
7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) offers the better valuation at 3. 5x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) a "Buy" — based on 6 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 — DEC or XOM?
On trailing P/E, Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the cheapest at 3.
5x versus Exxon Mobil Corporation at 22. 8x. On forward P/E, Diversified Energy Company PLC is actually cheaper at 8. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DEC or XOM?
Over the past 5 years, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) delivered a total return of +180.
7%, compared to -19. 2% for Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XOM returned +108. 8% versus DEC's +13. 3%. 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 — DEC or XOM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
20β versus Diversified Energy Company PLC's -0. 12β — meaning DEC is approximately -38% more volatile than XOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 24% for Diversified Energy Company PLC — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — DEC or XOM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is pulling ahead at 102.
7% versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Diversified Energy Company PLC grew EPS 346. 2% year-over-year, compared to -14. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, DEC leads at -5. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — DEC or XOM?
Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the more profitable company, earning 21.
2% net margin versus 8. 9% for Exxon Mobil Corporation — meaning it keeps 21. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DEC leads at 15. 1% versus 10. 5% for XOM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DEC leads at 25. 5%, 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 DEC or XOM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) trades at 8.
6x forward P/E versus 15. 1x for Exxon Mobil Corporation — 6. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DEC: 38. 4% to $22. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — DEC or XOM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) offers the highest yield at 7. 1%, versus 2. 6% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM).
09Is DEC or XOM better for a retirement portfolio?
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.
20), 2. 6% yield, +108. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOM: +108. 8%, DEC: +13. 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.
10What are the main differences between DEC and XOM?
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: DEC is a small-cap high-growth stock; XOM is a large-cap quality compounder 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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