EC vs PBR vs YPF vs CVX vs XOM

For growth investors, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) is the stronger pick with 48.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 4% for Ecopetrol S. A. (EC). Petróleo Brasileiro S. A. - Petrobras (PBR) offers the better valuation at 8. 7x trailing P/E (5. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Petróleo Brasileiro S. A. - Petrobras (PBR) a "Buy" — based on 22 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, Petróleo Brasileiro S.

A. - Petrobras (PBR) is the cheapest at 8. 7x versus Chevron Corporation at 27. 5x. On forward P/E, Ecopetrol S. A. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Ecopetrol S. A. wins at 0. 00x versus Petróleo Brasileiro S. A. - Petrobras's 0. 13x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) delivered a total return of +972.

7%, compared to +76. 3% for Ecopetrol S. A. (EC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PBR returned +428. 3% versus XOM's +105. 0%. 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 YPF Sociedad Anónima's 0. 51β — meaning YPF is approximately -449% 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 102% for Petróleo Brasileiro S. A. - Petrobras — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) is pulling ahead at 48.

3% versus -16. 4% for Ecopetrol S. A. (EC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Exxon Mobil Corporation grew EPS -14. 5% year-over-year, compared to -149. 6% for YPF Sociedad Anónima. Over a 3-year CAGR, YPF leads at 119. 0% 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 -4. 5% for YPF Sociedad Anónima — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PBR leads at 28. 1% versus 8. 9% for YPF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PBR leads at 50. 3%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Ecopetrol S. A. (EC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 00x versus Petróleo Brasileiro S. A. - Petrobras's 0. 13x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Ecopetrol S. A. (EC) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 15. 0x for Chevron Corporation — 15. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for YPF: 9. 8% to $47. 00.

In this comparison, PBR (27.

9% yield), EC (11. 0% yield), CVX (3. 8% yield), XOM (2. 7% yield) pay a dividend. YPF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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, +105. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOM: +105. 0%, YPF: +118. 7%), 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: EC is a mid-cap deep-value stock; PBR is a mid-cap deep-value stock; YPF is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CVX is a large-cap income-oriented stock; XOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock. EC, PBR, CVX, XOM pay a dividend while YPF does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.