VNOM vs FANG vs CTRA vs DVN

For growth investors, Viper Energy, Inc.

(VNOM) is the stronger pick with 56. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) offers the better valuation at 10. 9x trailing P/E (8. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM) a "Buy" — based on 42 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, Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) is the cheapest at 10.

9x versus Diamondback Energy, Inc. at 32. 9x. On forward P/E, Devon Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 3x.

Over the past 5 years, Viper Energy, Inc.

(VNOM) delivered a total return of +209. 0%, compared to +121. 4% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VNOM returned +244. 5% versus CTRA's +68. 7%. 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), Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 15β versus Viper Energy, Inc. 's 0. 28β — meaning VNOM is approximately -289% more volatile than CTRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 57% for Devon Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(VNOM) is pulling ahead at 56. 6% versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Coterra Energy Inc. grew EPS 49. 0% year-over-year, compared to -112. 6% for Viper Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FANG leads at 16. 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.

Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 4% net margin versus -5. 1% for Viper Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 62. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRA leads at 89. 1% versus 22. 0% for DVN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRA leads at 60. 4%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) trades at 8.

3x forward P/E versus 19. 7x for Viper Energy, Inc. — 11. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DVN: 23. 2% to $56. 18.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Viper Energy, Inc. (VNOM) offers the highest yield at 4. 9%, versus 2. 1% for Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 15), 2. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRA: +68. 7%, VNOM: +244. 5%), 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.

In terms of investment character: VNOM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; FANG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CTRA is a mid-cap deep-value stock; DVN is a mid-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.