DVN vs XOM

For growth investors, Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) is the stronger pick with 10.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) offers the better valuation at 11. 1x trailing P/E (8. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) a "Buy" — based on 64 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 trailing P/E, Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) is the cheapest at 11.

1x versus Exxon Mobil Corporation at 22. 2x. On forward P/E, Devon Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) delivered a total return of +171.

8%, compared to +133. 3% for Devon Energy Corporation (DVN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XOM returned +107. 4% versus DVN's +94. 3%. 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 Devon Energy Corporation's 0. 05β — meaning DVN is approximately -136% 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 57% for Devon Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) is pulling ahead at 10.

0% versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Devon Energy Corporation grew EPS -8. 1% year-over-year, compared to -14. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, DVN leads at -4. 8% 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.

Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) is the more profitable company, earning 15.

4% net margin versus 8. 9% for Exxon Mobil Corporation — meaning it keeps 15. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DVN leads at 22. 0% versus 10. 5% for XOM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DVN leads at 24. 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, Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) trades at 8.

9x forward P/E versus 15. 0x for Exxon Mobil Corporation — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DVN: 15. 4% to $53. 78.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

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

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%, DVN: +94. 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.

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: DVN is a mid-cap deep-value 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.