Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) vs California Resources Corporation (CRC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CRC | 5.1% revenue growth vs IMO's 1.0% |
| Value | IMO | Lower P/E (24.1x vs 45.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CRC | 10.9% net margin vs IMO's 8.6% |
| Stability / Safety | IMO | Beta 0.75 vs CRC's 1.26, lower leverage |
| Dividends | IMO | 1.5% yield, 26-year raise streak, vs CRC's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | IMO | +75.9% vs CRC's +35.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IMO | 13.0% ROA vs CRC's 5.7%, ROIC 17.5% vs 14.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Imperial Oil is a major integrated Canadian oil and gas company that explores for, produces, refines, and markets petroleum products. It generates revenue through upstream oil and gas production (~60% of earnings) and downstream refining/marketing operations (~40%), including its network of Esso and Mobil-branded retail stations. The company benefits from integrated operations—controlling the entire value chain from production to retail—and extensive infrastructure assets including refineries, pipelines, and a large retail network.
California Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused exclusively on California. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (~60%), natural gas and natural gas liquids (~25%), and electricity generation from its cogeneration facilities (~15%). The company's key advantage is its extensive mineral acreage position—approximately 1.9 million net acres—in a mature, high-barrier-to-entry California market with established infrastructure.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
IMO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CRC leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
IMO is the larger business by revenue, generating $46.2B annually — 13.1x CRC's $3.5B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.9% (CRC) to 8.6% (IMO). On growth, IMO holds the edge at -7.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $46.2B | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.5B | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.0B | $384M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $4.8B | $545M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +37.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | +10.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.3% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.2% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -53.9% | -79.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 12.7x trailing earnings, CRC trades at a 28% valuation discount to IMO's 17.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, IMO's 10.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4761.3x.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $58.3B | $5.36T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $60.6B | $5.36T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.80x | 12.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 24.10x | 45.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.71x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.06x | 4761.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.64x | 1812.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.63x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.39x | 9999.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
IMO delivers a 23.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $24 in annual profit, vs $11 for CRC. IMO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.18x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CRC's 0.35x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IMO scores 6/9 vs CRC's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +23.5% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +13.0% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +17.5% | +14.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.3% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.18x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.2B | $851M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $979M | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.2B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 372.25x | 5.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in IMO five years ago would be worth $56,452 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,361 for CRC. Over the past 12 months, IMO leads with a +75.9% total return vs CRC's +35.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IMO at 35.4% vs CRC's 14.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +31.7% | +26.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +75.9% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +148.2% | +49.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +464.5% | +143.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +299.7% | +1037.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +35.4% | +14.3% |
Risk & Volatility
IMO is the less volatile stock with a 0.75 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRC's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRC currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs IMO's 95.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.75x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $123.52 | $60.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $58.76 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.0% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.7 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 568K | 696K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IMO as "Hold" and CRC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.7% upside for CRC (target: $66) vs -61.6% for IMO (target: $45). For income investors, CRC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.36% vs IMO's 1.45%.
| Metric | IMOImperial Oil Limi… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $44.99 | $65.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 26 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.33 | $1.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.4% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 100 | 454.15 | +354.2% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 843.06 | +743.1% |
Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) returned +465% over 5 years vs California Resource… (CRC)'s +144%. A $10,000 investment in IMO 5 years ago would be worth $56,452 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | $25.1B | $48.8B | +94.2% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | $2.4B | $3.0B | +25.8% |
Imperial Oil Limited's revenue grew from $25.1B (2015) to $48.8B (2024) — a 7.7% CAGR. California Resources Corporation's revenue grew from $2.4B (2015) to $3.0B (2024) — a 2.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 4.5% | 9.8% | +120.2% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -151.2% | 12.7% | +108.4% |
Imperial Oil Limited's net margin went from 4% (2015) to 10% (2024). California Resources Corporation's net margin went from -151% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 53 | 6.8 | -87.2% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 2.5 | 11.2 | +348.0% |
Imperial Oil Limited has traded in a 4x–53x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. California Resources Corporation has traded in a 1x–11x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) | 1.32 | 9.02 | +583.3% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -92.79 | 4.62 | +105.0% |
Imperial Oil Limited's EPS grew from $1.32 (2015) to $9.02 (2024) — a 24% CAGR. California Resources Corporation's EPS grew from $-92.79 (2015) to $4.62 (2024).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Imperial Oil Limited generated $4B FCF in 2024 (-6% vs 2021). California Resources Corporation generated $350M FCF in 2024 (-25% vs 2021).
IMO vs CRC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IMO or CRC a better buy right now?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the better valuation at 12.7x trailing P/E (45.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate California Resources Corporation (CRC) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — IMO or CRC?
On trailing P/E, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the cheapest at 12.7x versus Imperial Oil Limited at 17.8x. On forward P/E, Imperial Oil Limited is actually cheaper at 24.1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IMO or CRC?
Over the past 5 years, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) delivered a total return of +464.5%, compared to +143.6% for California Resources Corporation (CRC). A $10,000 investment in IMO five years ago would be worth approximately $56K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +1037% versus IMO's +299.7%. 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 — IMO or CRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.75β versus California Resources Corporation's 1.26β — meaning CRC is approximately 69% more volatile than IMO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 18% versus 35% for California Resources Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — IMO or CRC?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus 9.8% for Imperial Oil Limited — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRC leads at 22.0% versus 12.5% for IMO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRC leads at 40.6%, 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.
06Is IMO or CRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Imperial Oil Limited (IMO) trades at 24.1x forward P/E versus 45.3x for California Resources Corporation — 21.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRC: 11.7% to $65.71.
07Which pays a better dividend — IMO or CRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the highest yield at 2.4%, versus 1.5% for Imperial Oil Limited (IMO).
08Is IMO or CRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.26), 2.4% yield, +1037% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRC: +1037%, IMO: +299.7%), 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.
09What are the main differences between IMO and CRC?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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