Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) vs California Resources Corporation (CRC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | OBE | 28.2% revenue growth vs CRC's 5.1% |
| Value | OBE | Lower P/E (35.0x vs 45.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CRC | 10.9% net margin vs OBE's -33.7% |
| Stability / Safety | CRC | Beta 1.26 vs OBE's 1.39 |
| Dividends | CRC | 2.4% yield; 3-year raise streak; OBE pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | OBE | +43.5% vs CRC's +35.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CRC | 5.7% ROA vs OBE's -13.2%, ROIC 14.5% vs -10.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Obsidian Energy is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company operating primarily in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. It generates revenue through the sale of crude oil (roughly 70% of production) and natural gas liquids, with natural gas making up the remainder. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive, low-decline asset base in established Canadian basins — which provides operational efficiency and predictable production.
California Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused exclusively on California. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (~60%), natural gas and natural gas liquids (~25%), and electricity generation from its cogeneration facilities (~15%). The company's key advantage is its extensive mineral acreage position—approximately 1.9 million net acres—in a mature, high-barrier-to-entry California market with established infrastructure.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CRC leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). OBE leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CRC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.5B annually — 5.0x OBE's $705M. CRC is the more profitable business, keeping 10.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to OBE's -33.7%. On growth, CRC holds the edge at -11.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | OBEObsidian Energy L… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $705M | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $311M | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$237M | $384M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$5M | $545M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -1.8% | +37.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -44.3% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -33.7% | +10.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -0.6% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -32.4% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -42.9% | -79.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, OBE's 2.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4761.3x.
| Metric | OBEObsidian Energy L… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $527M | $5.36T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $777M | $5.36T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4.02x | 12.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 35.04x | 45.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.58x | 4761.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.86x | 1812.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.58x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 9999.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CRC delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $-17 for OBE. OBE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CRC's 0.35x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), OBE scores 5/9 vs CRC's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | OBEObsidian Energy L… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -16.9% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -13.2% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -10.3% | +14.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -12.9% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.24x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $343M | $851M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $343M | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -13.27x | 5.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in OBE five years ago would be worth $57,721 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,361 for CRC. Over the past 12 months, OBE leads with a +43.5% total return vs CRC's +35.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRC at 14.3% vs OBE's 3.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | OBEObsidian Energy L… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.8% | +26.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +43.5% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +10.9% | +49.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +477.2% | +143.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.4% | +1037.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.5% | +14.3% |
Risk & Volatility
CRC is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than OBE's 1.39 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | OBEObsidian Energy L… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.39x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.10 | $60.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.88 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.9% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.9 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 436K | 696K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates OBE as "Hold" and CRC as "Buy". CRC is the only dividend payer here at 2.36% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | OBEObsidian Energy L… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $65.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.8% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) | 100 | 1,299.28 | +1199.3% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 843.06 | +743.1% |
Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) returned +477% over 5 years vs California Resource… (CRC)'s +144%. A $10,000 investment in OBE 5 years ago would be worth $57,721 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) | $1.2B | $838M | -29.4% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | $2.4B | $3.0B | +25.8% |
Obsidian Energy Ltd.'s revenue grew from $1.2B (2015) to $838M (2024) — a -3.8% CAGR. California Resources Corporation's revenue grew from $2.4B (2015) to $3.0B (2024) — a 2.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) | -2.2% | -24.2% | -985.0% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -151.2% | 12.7% | +108.4% |
Obsidian Energy Ltd.'s net margin went from -2% (2015) to -24% (2024). California Resources Corporation's net margin went from -151% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 6 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) | 0.8 | 5.3 | +562.5% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 2.5 | 11.2 | +348.0% |
Obsidian Energy Ltd. has traded in a 1x–5x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-4x. California Resources Corporation has traded in a 1x–11x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) | -36.9 | -2.67 | +92.8% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -92.79 | 4.62 | +105.0% |
Obsidian Energy Ltd.'s EPS grew from $-36.90 (2015) to $-2.67 (2024). California Resources Corporation's EPS grew from $-92.79 (2015) to $4.62 (2024).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Obsidian Energy Ltd. generated $-65M FCF in 2024 (-212% vs 2021). California Resources Corporation generated $350M FCF in 2024 (-25% vs 2021).
OBE vs CRC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is OBE or CRC a better buy right now?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the better valuation at 12.7x trailing P/E (45.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate California Resources Corporation (CRC) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — OBE or CRC?
On forward P/E, Obsidian Energy Ltd. is actually cheaper at 35.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — OBE or CRC?
Over the past 5 years, Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) delivered a total return of +477.2%, compared to +143.6% for California Resources Corporation (CRC). A $10,000 investment in OBE five years ago would be worth approximately $58K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +1037% versus OBE's +20.4%. 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 — OBE or CRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.26β versus Obsidian Energy Ltd.'s 1.39β — meaning OBE is approximately 10% more volatile than CRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 35% for California Resources Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — OBE or CRC?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus -24.2% for Obsidian Energy Ltd. — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRC leads at 22.0% versus -29.8% for OBE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRC leads at 40.6%, 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.
06Is OBE or CRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Obsidian Energy Ltd. (OBE) trades at 35.0x forward P/E versus 45.3x for California Resources Corporation — 10.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — OBE or CRC?
In this comparison, CRC (2.4% yield) pays a dividend. OBE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is OBE or CRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.26), 2.4% yield, +1037% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRC: +1037%, OBE: +20.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between OBE and CRC?
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: OBE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CRC is a mega-cap deep-value stock. CRC pays a dividend while OBE 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.