PTEN vs SLB

For growth investors, SLB N.

V. (SLB) is the stronger pick with -1. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 3% for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN). SLB N. V. (SLB) offers the better valuation at 22. 6x trailing P/E (19. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) a "Buy" — based on 53 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.

Over the past 5 years, SLB N.

V. (SLB) delivered a total return of +80. 6%, compared to +48. 7% for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SLB returned -9. 2% versus PTEN's -22. 1%. 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), Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

(PTEN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 59β versus SLB N. V. 's 0. 87β — meaning SLB is approximately 47% more volatile than PTEN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 40% versus 45% for SLB N. V. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), SLB N.

V. (SLB) is pulling ahead at -1. 6% versus -10. 3% for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. grew EPS 90. 2% year-over-year, compared to -24. 4% for SLB N. V.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PTEN leads at 22. 2% 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.

SLB N.

V. (SLB) is the more profitable company, earning 9. 4% net margin versus -1. 9% for Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SLB leads at 15. 3% versus -0. 5% for PTEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SLB leads at 18. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SLB: 7.

4% to $56. 95.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (PTEN) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 2. 0% for SLB N. V. (SLB).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc.

(PTEN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 59), 2. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PTEN: -22. 1%, SLB: -9. 2%), 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.