Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Build Your Comparison
Side-by-side financial analysisStock Comparison
VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Equipment & Services |
| Market Cap | $1.71B | $16.14B | $3.58B | $33.07B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.81B | $8.94B | $3.79B | $22.17B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-814M | $771M | $131M | $1.54B |
| Gross Margin | 35.9% | 47.0% | 45.1% | 15.3% |
| Operating Margin | 20.2% | 4.9% | 6.5% | 11.3% |
| Forward P/E | 11.2x | 7.3x | 4.1x | 16.8x |
| Total Debt | $1.30B | $7.53B | $2.30B | $8.13B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $19M | $35M | $368M | $2.21B |
VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion Energy In… (VET) | 100 | 250.0 | +150.0% |
| Ovintiv Inc. (OVV) | 100 | 601.6 | +501.6% |
| SM Energy Company (SM) | 100 | 830.7 | +730.7% |
| Halliburton Company (HAL) | 100 | 305.1 | +205.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
VET is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta -0.18, yield 4.1%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.18, Low D/E 58.6%, current ratio 0.84x
- Beta -0.18, yield 4.1%, current ratio 0.84x
- 4.1% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs SM's 2.6%
OVV is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 60.7% 10Y total return vs SM's 137.1%
- 8.6% margin vs VET's -44.9%
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 VET's -15.0%
- Lower P/E (4.1x vs 16.8x)
- Lower D/E ratio (47.7% vs 77.4%)
HAL is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if momentum and efficiency is your priority.
- +83.3% vs SM's +18.7%
- 6.1% ROA vs VET's -13.8%, ROIC 10.2% vs 3.5%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 18.1% revenue growth vs VET's -15.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (4.1x vs 16.8x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.6% margin vs VET's -44.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Lower D/E ratio (47.7% vs 77.4%) | |
| Dividends | 4.1% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs SM's 2.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +83.3% vs SM's +18.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 6.1% ROA vs VET's -13.8%, ROIC 10.2% vs 3.5% |
VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
OVV leads in 2 of 6 categories
SM leads 1 • HAL leads 1 • VET leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
OVV leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HAL is the larger business by revenue, generating $22.2B annually — 12.2x VET's $1.8B. OVV is the more profitable business, keeping 8.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VET's -44.9%. On growth, SM holds the edge at +76.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $8.9B | $3.8B | $22.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.2B | $2.6B | $1.6B | $3.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$814M | $771M | $131M | $1.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $301M | $3.8B | -$226M | $1.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.9% | +47.0% | +45.1% | +15.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.2% | +4.9% | +6.5% | +11.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -44.9% | +8.6% | +3.4% | +6.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.6% | +42.7% | -5.9% | +7.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -16.4% | +6.5% | +76.2% | -0.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -10.9% | -2.9% | -2.8% | +129.2% |
Valuation Metrics
SM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 5.5x trailing earnings, SM trades at a 79% valuation discount to HAL's 26.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SM's 2.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HAL's 11.5x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $16.1B | $3.6B | $33.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $23.6B | $5.5B | $39.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.68x | 12.02x | 5.52x | 26.40x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.20x | 7.26x | 4.06x | 16.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.92x | 5.77x | 2.72x | 11.48x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.35x | 1.85x | 1.14x | 1.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.08x | 1.33x | 0.74x | 3.17x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.32x | 10.73x | 6.25x | 19.78x |
Profitability & Efficiency
HAL leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HAL delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $-34 for VET. SM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.48x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HAL's 0.77x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SM scores 7/9 vs VET's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -33.7% | +7.1% | +2.5% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -13.8% | +3.8% | +1.1% | +6.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.5% | +8.0% | +8.9% | +10.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.3% | +11.1% | +10.4% | +11.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.59x | 0.67x | 0.48x | 0.77x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | $7.5B | $1.9B | $5.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $19M | $35M | $368M | $2.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.3B | $7.5B | $2.3B | $8.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.53x | 1.36x | 1.37x | 9.19x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
OVV leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in OVV five years ago would be worth $20,546 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,136 for VET. Over the past 12 months, HAL leads with a +83.3% total return vs SM's +18.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors OVV at 17.5% vs VET's 1.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +31.7% | +42.6% | +65.1% | +34.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +45.6% | +44.7% | +18.7% | +83.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.0% | +62.3% | +19.7% | +31.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +41.4% | +105.5% | +59.5% | +80.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -39.7% | +60.7% | +137.1% | +2.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.3% | +17.5% | +6.2% | +9.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SM and HAL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SM is the less volatile stock with a -0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HAL's 0.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HAL currently trades 90.8% from its 52-week high vs VET's 75.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.18x | -0.10x | -0.29x | 0.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $14.82 | $63.46 | $35.88 | $43.59 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.00 | $35.47 | $17.45 | $20.09 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +75.2% | +90.5% | +86.8% | +90.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.9 | 45.4 | 48.1 | 47.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 3.2M | 4.0M | 10.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — VET and SM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: VET as "Hold", OVV as "Buy", SM as "Buy", HAL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.4% upside for OVV (target: $66) vs -3.7% for VET (target: $11). For income investors, VET offers the higher dividend yield at 4.10% vs HAL's 1.74%.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $10.74 | $65.75 | $35.20 | $39.64 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 26 | 54 | 64 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.1% | +2.1% | +2.6% | +1.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.64 | $1.19 | $0.80 | $0.69 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +1.9% | +0.4% | +3.0% |
OVV leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). SM leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
VET vs OVV vs SM vs HAL: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VET or OVV or SM or HAL 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 -15. 0% for Vermilion Energy Inc. (VET). SM Energy Company (SM) offers the better valuation at 5. 5x trailing P/E (4. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ovintiv Inc. (OVV) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — VET or OVV or SM or HAL?
On trailing P/E, SM Energy Company (SM) is the cheapest at 5.
5x versus Halliburton Company at 26. 4x. On forward P/E, SM Energy Company is actually cheaper at 4. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VET or OVV or SM or HAL?
Over the past 5 years, Ovintiv Inc.
(OVV) delivered a total return of +105. 5%, compared to +41. 4% for Vermilion Energy Inc. (VET). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SM returned +137. 1% versus VET's -39. 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 — VET or OVV or SM or HAL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SM Energy Company (SM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
29β versus Halliburton Company's 0. 37β — meaning HAL is approximately -227% more volatile than SM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, SM Energy Company (SM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 48% versus 77% for Halliburton Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — VET or OVV or SM or HAL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SM Energy Company (SM) is pulling ahead at 18.
1% versus -15. 0% for Vermilion Energy Inc. (VET). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ovintiv Inc. grew EPS 13. 5% year-over-year, compared to -1313. 3% for Vermilion Energy Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HAL leads at 3. 0% 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 — VET or OVV or SM or HAL?
SM Energy Company (SM) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
5% net margin versus -37. 0% for Vermilion Energy Inc. — 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 9. 5% for VET. 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 VET or OVV or SM or HAL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, SM Energy Company (SM) trades at 4.
1x forward P/E versus 16. 8x for Halliburton Company — 12. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for OVV: 14. 4% to $65. 75.
08Which pays a better dividend — VET or OVV or SM or HAL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Vermilion Energy Inc. (VET) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, versus 1. 7% for Halliburton Company (HAL).
09Is VET or OVV or SM or HAL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SM Energy Company (SM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
29), 2. 6% yield, +137. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SM: +137. 1%, HAL: +2. 6%), 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 VET and OVV and SM and HAL?
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: VET is a small-cap income-oriented stock; OVV is a mid-cap deep-value stock; SM is a small-cap high-growth stock; HAL is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.