NBR
Nabors Industries Ltd.
Oil & Gas Drilling
Market Cap$1.59B
5Y Perf.+168.3%
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Stock Comparison
NBR vs XOM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation
Oil & Gas Integrated
Market Cap$629.60B
5Y Perf.+226.7%
NBR vs XOM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NBR | XOM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Drilling | Oil & Gas Integrated |
| Market Cap | $1.59B | $629.60B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.18B | $323.90B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $263M | $28.84B |
| Gross Margin | 25.0% | 21.7% |
| Operating Margin | 13.8% | 10.5% |
| Forward P/E | 5.8x | 15.0x |
| Total Debt | $2.57B | $43.54B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $941M | $10.68B |
NBR vs XOM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NBR
XOM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nabors Industries L… (NBR) | 100 | 268.3 | +168.3% |
| Exxon Mobil Corpora… (XOM) | 100 | 326.7 | +226.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NBR vs XOM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: XOM leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Nabors Industries Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NBR
Nabors Industries Ltd.
The Growth Play
NBR is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- Rev growth 8.7%, EPS growth 176.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.53, current ratio 1.56x
- Beta 1.53, yield 0.4%, current ratio 1.56x
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
XOM
Exxon Mobil Corporation
The Income Pick
XOM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 26 yrs, beta -0.15, yield 2.7%
- 107.4% 10Y total return vs NBR's -67.7%
- 8.9% margin vs NBR's 8.3%
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NBR | 8.7% revenue growth vs XOM's -4.5% |
| Value | NBR | Lower P/E (5.8x vs 15.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | XOM | 8.9% margin vs NBR's 8.3% |
| Stability / Safety | XOM | Lower D/E ratio (16.3% vs 178.4%) |
| Dividends | XOM | 2.7% yield, 26-year raise streak, vs NBR's 0.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NBR | +277.3% vs XOM's +45.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | XOM | 6.4% ROA vs NBR's 5.3%, ROIC 8.6% vs 6.2% |
NBR vs XOM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NBR vs XOM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLXOMLAGGINGNBR
NBRNabors Industries Ltd.
2leads
XOMExxon Mobil Corporati…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NBRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NBR4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NBR4/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
XOM5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
XOM4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
XOM2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NBR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
XOM is the larger business by revenue, generating $323.9B annually — 101.7x NBR's $3.2B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 8.9% (XOM) to 8.3% (NBR). On growth, NBR holds the edge at +9.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NBRNabors Industries… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $323.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.1B | $59.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $263M | $28.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$23M | $23.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.0% | +21.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +10.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +8.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.7% | +7.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.3% | -1.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +102.5% | -11.0% |
NBR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NBR leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.8x trailing earnings, NBR trades at a 74% valuation discount to XOM's 22.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NBR's 3.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than XOM's 11.1x.
| Metric | NBRNabors Industries… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $629.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.2B | $662.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.79x | 22.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 15.00x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.52x | 11.05x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.50x | 1.94x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.00x | 2.40x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 26.66x |
NBR leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
XOM leads this category, winning 5 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 $11 for XOM. XOM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.16x 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 XOM's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NBRNabors Industries… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.8% | +10.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +6.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.2% | +8.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.8% | +8.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.78x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.6B | $32.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $941M | $10.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.6B | $43.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.07x | 69.44x |
XOM leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
XOM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in XOM five years ago would be worth $27,178 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,845 for NBR. Over the past 12 months, NBR leads with a +277.3% total return vs XOM's +45.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors XOM at 13.7% vs NBR's 1.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NBRNabors Industries… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +79.5% | +22.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +277.3% | +45.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.7% | +46.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +8.5% | +171.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -67.7% | +107.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.2% | +13.7% |
XOM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NBR and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
XOM is the less volatile stock with a -0.15 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. NBR currently trades 94.0% from its 52-week high vs XOM's 84.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NBRNabors Industries… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.53x | -0.15x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $105.80 | $176.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $23.27 | $101.19 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.0% | +84.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 73.5 | 53.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 349K | 18.8M |
Evenly matched — NBR and XOM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
XOM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NBR as "Hold" and XOM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 8.0% upside for XOM (target: $160) vs -18.5% for NBR (target: $81). For income investors, XOM offers the higher dividend yield at 2.69% vs NBR's 0.42%.
| Metric | NBRNabors Industries… | XOMExxon Mobil Corpo… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $81.00 | $160.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 55 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +2.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 26 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.42 | $4.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.2% |
XOM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
XOM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). NBR leads in 2 (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallExxon Mobil Corporation (XOM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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NBR vs XOM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NBR or XOM 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 -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) offers the better valuation at 5. 8x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) a "Hold" — based on 44 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 XOM?
On trailing P/E, Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is the cheapest at 5. 8x versus Exxon Mobil Corporation at 22. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NBR or XOM?
Over the past 5 years, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) delivered a total return of +171.
8%, compared to +8. 5% for Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XOM returned +107. 4% versus NBR's -67. 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 — NBR or XOM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
15β versus Nabors Industries Ltd. 's 1. 53β — meaning NBR is approximately -1150% more volatile than XOM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 16% versus 178% for Nabors Industries Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NBR or XOM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is pulling ahead at 8. 7% versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nabors Industries Ltd. grew EPS 176. 7% year-over-year, compared to -14. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation. 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 XOM?
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
9% net margin versus 7. 8% for Nabors Industries Ltd. — meaning it keeps 8. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XOM leads at 10. 5% versus 8. 3% for NBR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XOM leads at 21. 7%, 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 XOM more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XOM: 8.
0% to $160. 43.
08Which pays a better dividend — NBR or XOM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 0. 4% for Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR).
09Is NBR or XOM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
15), 2. 7% yield, +107. 4% 10Y return). 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 (XOM: +107. 4%, NBR: -67. 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.
10What are the main differences between NBR and XOM?
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; XOM is a large-cap quality compounder stock. XOM 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(NBR: 9.3% · XOM: -1.3%)Net Margin>
%
(NBR: 8.3% · XOM: 8.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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