PDS
Precision Drilling Corporation
Oil & Gas Drilling
Market Cap$1.19B
5Y Perf.+739.2%
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Stock Comparison
PDS vs NBR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NBR
Nabors Industries Ltd.
Oil & Gas Drilling
Market Cap$1.59B
5Y Perf.+168.3%
PDS vs NBR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PDS | NBR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Drilling | Oil & Gas Drilling |
| Market Cap | $1.19B | $1.59B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.87B | $3.18B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-15M | $263M |
| Gross Margin | 33.5% | 25.0% |
| Operating Margin | 12.2% | 13.8% |
| Forward P/E | 11.1x | 5.8x |
| Total Debt | $791M | $2.57B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $86M | $941M |
PDS vs NBR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PDS
NBR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Drilling … (PDS) | 100 | 839.2 | +739.2% |
| Nabors Industries L… (NBR) | 100 | 268.3 | +168.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PDS vs NBR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NBR leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Precision Drilling Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PDS
Precision Drilling Corporation
The Income Pick
PDS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.52
- 3.6% 10Y total return vs NBR's -67.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.52, Low D/E 49.8%, current ratio 1.62x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
NBR
Nabors Industries Ltd.
The Growth Play
NBR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.7%, EPS growth 176.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.3%
- 8.7% revenue growth vs PDS's -3.2%
- Lower P/E (5.8x vs 11.1x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NBR | 8.7% revenue growth vs PDS's -3.2% |
| Value | NBR | Lower P/E (5.8x vs 11.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | NBR | 8.3% margin vs PDS's -0.8% |
| Stability / Safety | PDS | Beta 0.52 vs NBR's 1.53, lower leverage |
| Dividends | NBR | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NBR | +277.3% vs PDS's +123.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NBR | 5.3% ROA vs PDS's -0.6%, ROIC 6.2% vs 5.4% |
PDS vs NBR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
PDS vs NBR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNBRLAGGINGPDS
PDSPrecision Drilling Co…
2leads
NBRNabors Industries Ltd.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PDSMETRICS 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
NBR5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PDS4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
PDS1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NBR 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 — 1.7x PDS's $1.9B. NBR is the more profitable business, keeping 8.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PDS's -0.8%. On growth, NBR holds the edge at +9.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PDSPrecision Drillin… | NBRNabors Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $556M | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$15M | $263M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $144M | -$23M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.5% | +25.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +13.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -0.8% | +8.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.7% | -0.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.3% | +9.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -38.6% | +102.5% |
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 99% valuation discount to PDS's 888.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NBR's 3.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PDS's 4.7x.
| Metric | PDSPrecision Drillin… | NBRNabors Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $1.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.7B | $3.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 888.60x | 5.79x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.11x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.75x | 3.52x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.88x | 0.50x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 1.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.89x | — |
NBR leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NBR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NBR delivers a 17.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 in annual profit, vs $-1 for PDS. PDS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.50x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NBR's 1.78x.
| Metric | PDSPrecision Drillin… | NBRNabors Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -0.9% | +17.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.6% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.4% | +6.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.8% | +6.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.50x | 1.78x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $705M | $1.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $86M | $941M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $791M | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.94x | 3.07x |
NBR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PDS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PDS five years ago would be worth $33,355 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,845 for NBR. Over the past 12 months, NBR leads with a +277.3% total return vs PDS's +123.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PDS at 23.8% vs NBR's 1.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PDSPrecision Drillin… | NBRNabors Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +24.3% | +79.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +123.9% | +277.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +89.8% | +3.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +233.6% | +8.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.6% | -67.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +23.8% | +1.2% |
PDS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PDS and NBR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PDS is the less volatile stock with a 0.52 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 PDS's 88.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PDSPrecision Drillin… | NBRNabors Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.52x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $103.80 | $105.80 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $39.67 | $23.27 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.2% | +94.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.3 | 73.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 126K | 349K |
Evenly matched — PDS and NBR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
PDS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PDS as "Buy" and NBR as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 24.0% upside for PDS (target: $114) vs -18.5% for NBR (target: $81). NBR is the only dividend payer here at 0.42% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | PDSPrecision Drillin… | NBRNabors Industries… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $113.50 | $81.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.42 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.7% | 0.0% |
PDS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NBR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PDS leads in 2 (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallNabors Industries Ltd. (NBR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PDS vs NBR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PDS or NBR 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 -3. 2% for Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS). Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) offers the better valuation at 5. 8x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 — PDS or NBR?
On trailing P/E, Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is the cheapest at 5. 8x versus Precision Drilling Corporation at 888. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PDS or NBR?
Over the past 5 years, Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS) delivered a total return of +233.
6%, compared to +8. 5% for Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PDS returned +3. 6% 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 — PDS or NBR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
52β versus Nabors Industries Ltd. 's 1. 53β — meaning NBR is approximately 192% more volatile than PDS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 178% for Nabors Industries Ltd. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PDS or NBR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is pulling ahead at 8. 7% versus -3. 2% for Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nabors Industries Ltd. grew EPS 176. 7% year-over-year, compared to -98. 2% for Precision Drilling 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 — PDS or NBR?
Nabors Industries Ltd.
(NBR) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 8% net margin versus 0. 1% for Precision Drilling Corporation — meaning it keeps 7. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PDS leads at 9. 3% versus 8. 3% for NBR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NBR leads at 19. 5%, 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 PDS or NBR more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PDS: 24.
0% to $113. 50.
08Which pays a better dividend — PDS or NBR?
In this comparison, NBR (0.
4% yield) pays a dividend. PDS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is PDS or NBR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Precision Drilling Corporation (PDS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
52)). 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 (PDS: +3. 6%, 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 PDS and NBR?
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: PDS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; NBR is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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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