EC vs YPF

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). Ecopetrol S. A. (EC) offers the better valuation at 12. 1x trailing P/E (0. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 forward P/E, Ecopetrol S.

A. is actually cheaper at 0. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, YPF Sociedad Anónima (YPF) delivered a total return of +1047%, compared to +81.

8% for Ecopetrol S. A. (EC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EC returned +175. 3% versus YPF's +117. 6%. 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), Ecopetrol S.

A. (EC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus YPF Sociedad Anónima's 0. 51β — meaning YPF is approximately 1854% more volatile than EC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ecopetrol S. A. (EC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 100% versus 101% for YPF Sociedad Anónima — 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: Ecopetrol S. A. grew EPS -39. 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.

Ecopetrol S.

A. (EC) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 5% net margin versus -4. 5% for YPF Sociedad Anónima — meaning it keeps 7. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EC leads at 22. 3% versus 8. 9% for YPF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EC leads at 31. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Ecopetrol S.

A. (EC) trades at 0. 0x forward P/E versus 0. 0x for YPF Sociedad Anónima — 0. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for YPF: 8. 6% to $47. 00.

In this comparison, EC (10.

8% yield) pays a dividend. YPF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ecopetrol S.

A. (EC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 03), 10. 8% yield, +175. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EC: +175. 3%, YPF: +117. 6%), 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; YPF is a mid-cap high-growth stock. EC pays 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.