TUSK vs ACDC vs LBRT vs NINE vs PUMP

For growth investors, Liberty Energy Inc.

(LBRT) is the stronger pick with -7. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for Nine Energy Service, Inc. (NINE). Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. (TUSK) offers the better valuation at 23. 5x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Liberty Energy Inc. (LBRT) a "Buy" — based on 19 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, Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.

(TUSK) is the cheapest at 23. 5x versus ProPetro Holding Corp. at 1993. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Nine Energy Service, Inc.

(NINE) delivered a total return of +385. 2%, compared to -63. 7% for ProFrac Holding Corp. (ACDC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LBRT returned +94. 1% versus TUSK's -78. 5%. 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), Mammoth Energy Services, Inc.

(TUSK) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 66β versus Nine Energy Service, Inc. 's 3. 21β — meaning NINE is approximately 388% more volatile than TUSK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. (TUSK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 130% for ProFrac Holding Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Liberty Energy Inc.

(LBRT) is pulling ahead at -7. 2% versus -100. 0% for Nine Energy Service, Inc. (NINE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. grew EPS 102. 3% year-over-year, compared to -66. 7% for ProFrac Holding Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PUMP leads at -0. 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.

Liberty Energy Inc.

(LBRT) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 7% net margin versus -143. 9% for Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NINE leads at 2. 0% versus -143. 9% for TUSK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TUSK leads at 45. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for TUSK: 197.

9% to $7. 00.

In this comparison, LBRT (1.

0% yield) pays a dividend. TUSK, ACDC, NINE, PUMP do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Liberty Energy Inc.

(LBRT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (1. 0% yield). Nine Energy Service, Inc. (NINE) carries a higher beta of 3. 21 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LBRT: +94. 1%, NINE: -62. 3%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (TUSK (Industrials) and ACDC (Energy) and LBRT (Energy) and NINE (Energy) and PUMP (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

LBRT pays a dividend while TUSK, ACDC, NINE, PUMP do 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.