KWM
K Wave Media Ltd.
Shell Companies
Market Cap$20M
5Y Perf.-81.0%
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Stock Comparison
KWM vs SM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SM
SM Energy Company
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$3.35B
5Y Perf.+24.3%
KWM vs SM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | KWM | SM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Shell Companies | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $20M | $3.35B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $209K | $3.79B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-9M | $131M |
| Gross Margin | 0.7% | 45.1% |
| Operating Margin | -42.9% | 6.5% |
| Forward P/E | — | 4.4x |
| Total Debt | $168K | $2.30B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3M | $368M |
KWM vs SM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
KWM
SM
| Stock | May 25 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| K Wave Media Ltd. (KWM) | 100 | 19.0 | -81.0% |
| SM Energy Company (SM) | 100 | 124.3 | +24.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KWM vs SM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SM leads in 5 of 5 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
KWM
K Wave Media Ltd.
The Banking Pick
KWM is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.90, Low D/E 2.8%, current ratio 1.95x
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
SM
SM Energy Company
The Income Pick
SM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.16, yield 2.7%
- 132.6% 10Y total return vs KWM's -87.9%
- Beta 0.16, yield 2.7%, current ratio 0.69x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality / Margins | SM | 3.4% margin vs KWM's -42.8% |
| Stability / Safety | SM | Beta 0.16 vs KWM's 0.90 |
| Dividends | SM | 2.7% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SM | +41.1% vs KWM's -87.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SM | 1.1% ROA vs KWM's -101.7% |
KWM vs SM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
KWM vs SM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSMLAGGINGKWM
KWMK Wave Media Ltd.
0leads
SMSM Energy Company
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KWMMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SM4/4
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SM2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SM4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SM6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SM is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.8B annually — 18175.9x KWM's $208,704. SM is the more profitable business, keeping 3.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KWM's -42.8%.
| Metric | KWMK Wave Media Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $208,704 | $3.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | — | $1.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | — | $131M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | — | -$226M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +0.7% | +45.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -42.9% | +6.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -42.8% | +3.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -38.5% | -5.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +76.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -2.1% |
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | KWMK Wave Media Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20M | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $18M | $5.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.24x | 5.16x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 4.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 2.60x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 95.65x | 1.06x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.30x | 0.70x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.84x |
SM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SM delivers a 2.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $-149 for KWM. KWM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SM's 0.48x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SM scores 7/9 vs KWM's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | KWMK Wave Media Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -148.5% | +2.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -101.7% | +1.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -146.5% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.48x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2M | $1.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $368M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $167,826 | $2.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 1.37x |
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SM five years ago would be worth $17,892 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,207 for KWM. Over the past 12 months, SM leads with a +41.1% total return vs KWM's -87.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SM at 5.9% vs KWM's -50.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | KWMK Wave Media Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -29.0% | +53.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -87.9% | +41.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.9% | +18.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.9% | +78.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.9% | +132.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -50.6% | +5.9% |
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SM is the less volatile stock with a 0.16 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KWM's 0.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SM currently trades 87.5% from its 52-week high vs KWM's 3.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | KWMK Wave Media Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.90x | 0.16x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.48 | $33.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.28 | $17.45 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +3.7% | +87.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 37.9 | 47.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 646K | 5.9M |
SM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
SM is the only dividend payer here at 2.75% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | KWMK Wave Media Ltd. | SMSM Energy Company |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $29.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 54 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.4% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
SM leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics.
Best OverallSM Energy Company (SM)Leads 5 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
KWM vs SM: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KWM or SM a better buy right now?
SM Energy Company (SM) offers the better valuation at 5.
2x trailing P/E (4. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SM Energy Company (SM) a "Buy" — based on 54 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 is the better long-term investment — KWM or SM?
Over the past 5 years, SM Energy Company (SM) delivered a total return of +78.
9%, compared to -87. 9% for K Wave Media Ltd. (KWM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SM returned +132. 6% versus KWM's -87. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — KWM or SM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SM Energy Company (SM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
16β versus K Wave Media Ltd. 's 0. 90β — meaning KWM is approximately 449% more volatile than SM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, K Wave Media Ltd. (KWM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 48% for SM Energy Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — KWM or SM?
SM Energy Company (SM) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
5% net margin versus -42. 8% for K Wave Media Ltd. — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SM leads at 26. 1% versus -42. 9% for KWM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SM leads at 31. 9%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — KWM or SM?
In this comparison, SM (2.
7% yield) pays a dividend. KWM does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
06Is KWM or SM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SM Energy Company (SM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
16), 2. 7% yield, +132. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SM: +132. 6%, KWM: -87. 9%), 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.
07What are the main differences between KWM and SM?
These companies operate in different sectors (KWM (Financial Services) and SM (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: KWM is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SM is a small-cap high-growth stock. SM pays a dividend while KWM 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.
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