SM
SM Energy Company
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$3.28B
5Y Perf.+574.9%
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Stock Comparison
SM vs CHRD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CHRD
Chord Energy Corporation
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$7.98B
5Y Perf.+311.8%
SM vs CHRD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SM | CHRD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $3.28B | $7.98B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.15B | $5.33B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $648M | $-67M |
| Gross Margin | 31.9% | 9.2% |
| Operating Margin | 26.1% | 3.6% |
| Forward P/E | 4.3x | 7.8x |
| Total Debt | $2.30B | $1.50B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $368M | $190M |
SM vs CHRD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SM
CHRD
| Stock | Nov 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM Energy Company (SM) | 100 | 674.9 | +574.9% |
| Chord Energy Corpor… (CHRD) | 100 | 411.8 | +311.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SM vs CHRD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SM leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Chord Energy Corporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
SM
SM Energy Company
The Growth Play
SM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 18.1%, EPS growth -15.4%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.9%
- 18.1% revenue growth vs CHRD's -7.1%
- Lower P/E (4.3x vs 7.8x)
Best for: growth exposure
CHRD
Chord Energy Corporation
The Income Pick
CHRD is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 3.9%
- 5.5% 10Y total return vs SM's 118.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.13, Low D/E 18.6%, current ratio 1.06x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SM | 18.1% revenue growth vs CHRD's -7.1% |
| Value | SM | Lower P/E (4.3x vs 7.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | SM | 20.5% margin vs CHRD's -1.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CHRD | Beta 0.13 vs SM's 0.16, lower leverage |
| Dividends | SM | 2.8% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs CHRD's 3.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CHRD | +61.2% vs SM's +36.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SM | 7.2% ROA vs CHRD's -0.5%, ROIC 8.9% vs 1.6% |
SM vs CHRD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SM vs CHRD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSMLAGGINGCHRD
CHRDChord Energy Corporat…
1leads
SMSM Energy Company
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CHRDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
SM4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SM6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SM6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
CHRD2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CHRD is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.3B annually — 1.7x SM's $3.2B. SM is the more profitable business, keeping 20.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CHRD's -1.3%. On growth, CHRD holds the edge at +37.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | CHRDChord Energy Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $5.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.0B | $1.7B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $648M | -$67M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$241M | $522M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.9% | +9.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +26.1% | +3.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +20.5% | -1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -7.7% | +9.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.1% | +37.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -41.7% | -48.1% |
SM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.1x trailing earnings, SM trades at a 97% valuation discount to CHRD's 190.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SM's 2.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CHRD's 5.6x.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | CHRDChord Energy Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $8.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.2B | $9.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 5.06x | 190.32x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 4.34x | 7.75x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.57x | 5.57x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.04x | 1.64x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.68x | 1.01x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.73x | 11.53x |
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SM delivers a 14.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-1 for CHRD. CHRD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.19x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SM's 0.48x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SM scores 7/9 vs CHRD's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | CHRDChord Energy Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.0% | -0.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.2% | -0.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.9% | +1.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +1.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.48x | 0.19x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.9B | $1.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $368M | $190M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.3B | $1.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.92x | 0.39x |
SM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — SM and CHRD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CHRD five years ago would be worth $25,882 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,422 for SM. Over the past 12 months, CHRD leads with a +61.2% total return vs SM's +36.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SM at 5.3% vs CHRD's 5.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | CHRDChord Energy Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +50.4% | +50.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.5% | +61.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.7% | +16.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +84.2% | +158.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +118.0% | +551.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.3% | +5.2% |
Evenly matched — SM and CHRD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CHRD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CHRD is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SM's 0.16 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CHRD currently trades 93.6% from its 52-week high vs SM's 85.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | CHRDChord Energy Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.16x | 0.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $33.25 | $150.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $17.45 | $84.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.9% | +93.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.5 | 65.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.9M | 1.1M |
CHRD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SM and CHRD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SM as "Buy" and CHRD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 1.6% upside for SM (target: $29) vs -3.1% for CHRD (target: $137). For income investors, CHRD offers the higher dividend yield at 3.90% vs SM's 2.80%.
| Metric | SMSM Energy Company | CHRDChord Energy Corp… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.00 | $136.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 54 | 19 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +3.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | $5.49 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +4.6% |
Evenly matched — SM and CHRD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
SM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). CHRD leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallSM Energy Company (SM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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SM vs CHRD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SM or CHRD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, SM Energy Company (SM) is the stronger pick with 18.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 1% for Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD). SM Energy Company (SM) offers the better valuation at 5. 1x trailing P/E (4. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SM Energy Company (SM) a "Buy" — based on 54 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 — SM or CHRD?
On trailing P/E, SM Energy Company (SM) is the cheapest at 5.
1x versus Chord Energy Corporation at 190. 3x. On forward P/E, SM Energy Company is actually cheaper at 4. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SM or CHRD?
Over the past 5 years, Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD) delivered a total return of +158.
8%, compared to +84. 2% for SM Energy Company (SM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHRD returned +551. 7% versus SM's +118. 0%. 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 — SM or CHRD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
13β versus SM Energy Company's 0. 16β — meaning SM is approximately 26% more volatile than CHRD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 48% for SM Energy Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SM or CHRD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SM Energy Company (SM) is pulling ahead at 18.
1% versus -7. 1% for Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: SM Energy Company grew EPS -15. 4% year-over-year, compared to -95. 4% for Chord Energy Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CHRD leads at 10. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — SM or CHRD?
SM Energy Company (SM) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
5% net margin versus 0. 9% for Chord Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SM leads at 26. 1% versus 4. 1% for CHRD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SM leads at 31. 9%, 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 SM or CHRD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SM Energy Company (SM) trades at 4.
3x forward P/E versus 7. 8x for Chord Energy Corporation — 3. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SM: 1. 6% to $29. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — SM or CHRD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD) offers the highest yield at 3. 9%, versus 2. 8% for SM Energy Company (SM).
09Is SM or CHRD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Chord Energy Corporation (CHRD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
13), 3. 9% yield, +551. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHRD: +551. 7%, SM: +118. 0%), 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 SM and CHRD?
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: SM is a small-cap high-growth stock; CHRD is a small-cap income-oriented 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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(SM: -14.1% · CHRD: 37.1%)P/E Ratio<
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