NOV vs XOM

For growth investors, NOV Inc.

(NOV) is the stronger pick with -1. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the better valuation at 21. 9x trailing P/E (14. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NOV Inc. (NOV) a "Hold" — based on 58 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.

On trailing P/E, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the cheapest at 21.

9x versus NOV Inc. at 49. 5x. On forward P/E, Exxon Mobil Corporation is actually cheaper at 14. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) delivered a total return of +164.

6%, compared to +19. 6% for NOV Inc. (NOV). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XOM returned +105. 0% 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.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

15β versus NOV Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning NOV is approximately -789% 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 37% for NOV Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NOV Inc.

(NOV) is pulling ahead at -1. 4% versus -4. 5% for Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Exxon Mobil Corporation grew EPS -14. 5% 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.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) is the more profitable company, earning 8.

9% net margin versus 1. 7% for NOV Inc. — 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 6. 5% for NOV. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) trades at 14.

8x forward P/E versus 21. 7x for NOV Inc. — 6. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XOM: 9. 5% to $160. 43.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) offers the highest yield at 2. 7%, versus 2. 6% for NOV Inc. (NOV).

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, +105. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOM: +105. 0%, NOV: -31. 8%), 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.

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.