NOV
NOV Inc.
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Market Cap$6.96B
5Y Perf.+54.8%
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Stock Comparison
NOV vs LBRT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
LBRT
Liberty Energy Inc.
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Market Cap$5.13B
5Y Perf.+515.0%
NOV vs LBRT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NOV | LBRT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Equipment & Services | Oil & Gas Equipment & Services |
| Market Cap | $6.96B | $5.13B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $8.69B | $4.05B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $91M | $150M |
| Gross Margin | 19.5% | 10.7% |
| Operating Margin | 5.3% | 1.5% |
| Forward P/E | 21.7x | 3480.2x |
| Total Debt | $2.34B | $873M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.55B | $28M |
NOV vs LBRT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NOV
LBRT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOV Inc. (NOV) | 100 | 154.8 | +54.8% |
| Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) | 100 | 615.0 | +515.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NOV vs LBRT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NOV leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Liberty Energy Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NOV
NOV Inc.
The Income Pick
NOV carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 1.01, yield 2.6%
- Rev growth -1.4%, EPS growth -75.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.01, Low D/E 37.0%, current ratio 2.42x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
LBRT
Liberty Energy Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
LBRT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 94.1% 10Y total return vs NOV's -31.8%
- 3.7% margin vs NOV's 1.0%
- +186.8% vs NOV's +67.6%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NOV | -1.4% revenue growth vs LBRT's -7.2% |
| Value | NOV | Lower P/E (21.7x vs 3480.2x) |
| Quality / Margins | LBRT | 3.7% margin vs NOV's 1.0% |
| Stability / Safety | NOV | Beta 1.01 vs LBRT's 1.31, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NOV | 2.6% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs LBRT's 1.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | LBRT | +186.8% vs NOV's +67.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LBRT | 4.0% ROA vs NOV's 0.8%, ROIC 2.3% vs 5.8% |
NOV vs LBRT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NOV vs LBRT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNOVLAGGINGLBRT
LBRTLiberty Energy Inc.
1leads
NOVNOV Inc.
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LBRTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NOV5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NOV6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LBRT6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NOV2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NOV2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — NOV and LBRT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NOV is the larger business by revenue, generating $8.7B annually — 2.1x LBRT's $4.0B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 3.7% (LBRT) to 1.0% (NOV). On growth, LBRT holds the edge at +4.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NOVNOV Inc. | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.7B | $4.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $725M | $549M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $91M | $150M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $734M | -$193M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +19.5% | +10.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +1.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.0% | +3.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | -4.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.4% | +4.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -73.7% | +16.7% |
Evenly matched — NOV and LBRT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NOV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 35.6x trailing earnings, LBRT trades at a 28% valuation discount to NOV's 49.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NOV's 8.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LBRT's 10.3x.
| Metric | NOVNOV Inc. | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.0B | $5.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.7B | $6.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 49.49x | 35.58x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.73x | 3480.22x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.43x | 10.28x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.80x | 1.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.14x | 2.53x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.06x | 363.85x |
NOV leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NOV leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LBRT delivers a 7.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $1 for NOV. NOV carries lower financial leverage with a 0.37x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LBRT's 0.42x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NOV scores 5/9 vs LBRT's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NOVNOV Inc. | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +7.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.8% | +4.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.8% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.3% | +3.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.37x | 0.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $788M | $846M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.6B | $28M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.3B | $873M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.82x | 5.24x |
NOV leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LBRT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LBRT five years ago would be worth $23,238 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,957 for NOV. Over the past 12 months, LBRT leads with a +186.8% total return vs NOV's +67.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LBRT at 38.6% vs NOV's 8.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NOVNOV Inc. | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.2% | +68.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +67.6% | +186.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.3% | +166.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.6% | +132.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.8% | +94.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.9% | +38.6% |
LBRT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NOV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NOV is the less volatile stock with a 1.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LBRT's 1.31 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | NOVNOV Inc. | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.01x | 1.31x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.93 | $34.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.65 | $9.90 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.2% | +92.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.4 | 58.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.8M | 4.2M |
NOV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NOV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NOV as "Hold" and LBRT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.4% upside for LBRT (target: $34) vs 0.4% for NOV (target: $19). For income investors, NOV offers the higher dividend yield at 2.63% vs LBRT's 1.04%.
| Metric | NOVNOV Inc. | LBRTLiberty Energy In… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $19.38 | $34.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 58 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +1.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.51 | $0.33 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.5% | +0.5% |
NOV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NOV leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). LBRT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNOV Inc. (NOV)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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NOV vs LBRT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NOV or LBRT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, NOV Inc.
(NOV) is the stronger pick with -1. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 2% for Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT). Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) offers the better valuation at 35. 6x trailing P/E (3480. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 — NOV or LBRT?
On trailing P/E, Liberty Energy Inc.
(LBRT) is the cheapest at 35. 6x versus NOV Inc. at 49. 5x. On forward P/E, NOV Inc. is actually cheaper at 21. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NOV or LBRT?
Over the past 5 years, Liberty Energy Inc.
(LBRT) delivered a total return of +132. 4%, compared to +19. 6% for NOV Inc. (NOV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LBRT returned +94. 1% versus NOV's -31. 8%. 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 — NOV or LBRT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NOV Inc.
(NOV) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 01β versus Liberty Energy Inc. 's 1. 31β — meaning LBRT is approximately 31% more volatile than NOV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NOV Inc. (NOV) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 42% for Liberty Energy Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NOV or LBRT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NOV Inc.
(NOV) is pulling ahead at -1. 4% versus -7. 2% for Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Liberty Energy Inc. grew EPS -52. 4% year-over-year, compared to -75. 6% for NOV Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NOV leads at 6. 5% 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 — NOV or LBRT?
Liberty Energy Inc.
(LBRT) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 7% net margin versus 1. 7% for NOV Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NOV leads at 6. 5% versus 2. 0% for LBRT. 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.
07Is NOV or LBRT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, NOV Inc.
(NOV) trades at 21. 7x forward P/E versus 3480. 2x for Liberty Energy Inc. — 3458. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LBRT: 7. 4% to $34. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NOV or LBRT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
NOV Inc. (NOV) offers the highest yield at 2. 6%, versus 1. 0% for Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT).
09Is NOV or LBRT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NOV Inc.
(NOV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 01), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NOV: -31. 8%, LBRT: +94. 1%), 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 NOV and LBRT?
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(NOV: -2.4% · LBRT: 4.5%)P/E Ratio<
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