Oil & Gas Drilling
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NBR vs KRP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
NBR vs KRP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Drilling | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $1.54B | $1.37B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.18B | $309M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $263M | $72M |
| Gross Margin | 25.0% | 103.3% |
| Operating Margin | 13.8% | 37.2% |
| Forward P/E | 5.6x | 15.8x |
| Total Debt | $2.57B | $451M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $941M | $44M |
NBR vs KRP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nabors Industries L… (NBR) | 100 | 260.4 | +160.4% |
| Kimbell Royalty Par… (KRP) | 100 | 211.7 | +111.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NBR vs KRP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NBR is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.7%, EPS growth 176.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.3%
- 8.7% revenue growth vs KRP's 7.5%
- Lower P/E (5.6x vs 15.8x)
KRP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 9.8%
- 35.4% 10Y total return vs NBR's -67.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.21, Low D/E 58.3%, current ratio 8.64x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.7% revenue growth vs KRP's 7.5% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (5.6x vs 15.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 23.2% margin vs NBR's 8.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.21 vs NBR's 1.53, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 9.8% yield, vs NBR's 0.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +273.7% vs KRP's +35.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 5.8% ROA vs NBR's 5.3%, ROIC 8.8% vs 6.2% |
NBR vs KRP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
NBR vs KRP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
KRP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NBR is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 10.3x KRP's $309M. KRP is the more profitable business, keeping 23.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NBR's 8.3%. On growth, NBR holds the edge at +9.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $309M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $177M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $263M | $72M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$23M | $241M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.0% | +103.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +37.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +23.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.7% | +78.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.3% | -27.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +102.5% | -76.2% |
Valuation Metrics
NBR leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.6x trailing earnings, NBR trades at a 82% valuation discount to KRP's 31.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NBR's 3.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KRP's 13.4x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $1.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.2B | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.62x | 31.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 15.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.47x | 13.37x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.48x | 4.12x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.97x | 2.28x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.59x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KRP leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NBR delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $10 for KRP. KRP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.58x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NBR's 1.78x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NBR scores 7/9 vs KRP's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.8% | +9.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +5.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +8.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.8% | +11.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.78x | 0.58x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $407M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $941M | $44M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.6B | $451M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.07x | 5.04x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KRP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KRP five years ago would be worth $18,155 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,746 for NBR. Over the past 12 months, NBR leads with a +273.7% total return vs KRP's +35.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KRP at 7.3% vs NBR's 0.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +74.2% | +23.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +273.7% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +0.6% | +23.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.5% | +81.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.0% | +35.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +0.2% | +7.3% |
Risk & Volatility
KRP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KRP is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NBR's 1.53 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.53x | 0.21x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $105.80 | $15.65 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.27 | $11.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +91.2% | +92.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.3 | 46.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 348K | 829K |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NBR and KRP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NBR as "Hold" and KRP as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.1% upside for KRP (target: $17) vs -16.1% for NBR (target: $81). For income investors, KRP offers the higher dividend yield at 9.80% vs NBR's 0.43%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $81.00 | $17.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +9.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.42 | $1.42 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +13.1% |
KRP leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NBR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
NBR vs KRP: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NBR or KRP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is the stronger pick with 8. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 5% for Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP). Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) offers the better valuation at 5. 6x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 — NBR or KRP?
On trailing P/E, Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is the cheapest at 5. 6x versus Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP at 31. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NBR or KRP?
Over the past 5 years, Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) delivered a total return of +81.
5%, compared to -2. 5% for Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KRP returned +35. 4% versus NBR's -67. 0%. 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 — NBR or KRP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
21β versus Nabors Industries Ltd. 's 1. 53β — meaning NBR is approximately 641% more volatile than KRP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 58% versus 178% for Nabors Industries Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NBR or KRP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is pulling ahead at 8. 7% versus 7. 5% for Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nabors Industries Ltd. grew EPS 176. 7% year-over-year, compared to 100. 6% for Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, NBR leads at 6. 3% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NBR or KRP?
Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) is the more profitable company, earning 27.
2% net margin versus 7. 8% for Nabors Industries Ltd. — meaning it keeps 27. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KRP leads at 39. 8% versus 8. 3% for NBR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KRP leads at 93. 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.
07Is NBR or KRP more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for KRP: 17.
1% to $17. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NBR or KRP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) offers the highest yield at 9. 8%, versus 0. 4% for Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR).
09Is NBR or KRP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP (KRP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
21), 9. 8% yield). Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) carries a higher beta of 1. 53 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KRP: +35. 4%, NBR: -67. 0%), 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.
10What are the main differences between NBR and KRP?
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: NBR is a small-cap deep-value stock; KRP is a small-cap income-oriented stock. KRP pays a dividend while NBR 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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