HP vs OIS vs NOV vs PTEN

For growth investors, Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

(HP) is the stronger pick with 35. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 3% for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN). NOV Inc. (NOV) offers the better valuation at 49. 5x trailing P/E (21. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) a "Buy" — based on 53 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, Oil States International, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 15. 2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

(PTEN) delivered a total return of +48. 7%, compared to +19. 6% for NOV Inc. (NOV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HP returned -3. 5% versus OIS's -71. 4%. 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), Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

(PTEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus Oil States International, Inc. 's 1. 34β — meaning OIS is approximately 127% more volatile than PTEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Oil States International, Inc. (OIS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 82% for Helmerich & Payne, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Helmerich & Payne, Inc.

(HP) is pulling ahead at 35. 9% versus -10. 3% for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. grew EPS 90. 2% year-over-year, compared to -933. 3% for Oil States International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PTEN leads at 22. 2% 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.

NOV Inc.

(NOV) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 7% net margin versus -16. 3% for Oil States International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NOV leads at 6. 5% versus -0. 7% for OIS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NOV leads at 20. 2%, 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, Oil States International, Inc.

(OIS) trades at 15. 2x forward P/E versus 21. 7x for NOV Inc. — 6. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OIS: 57. 5% to $14. 00.

In this comparison, PTEN (2.

8% yield), HP (2. 8% yield), NOV (2. 6% yield) pay a dividend. OIS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

(PTEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 59), 2. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PTEN: -22. 1%, OIS: -71. 4%), 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: HP is a small-cap high-growth stock; OIS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NOV is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PTEN is a small-cap quality compounder stock. HP, NOV, PTEN pay a dividend while OIS 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.