Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS) vs APA Corporation (APA) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | WDS | -1.5% revenue growth vs APA's -8.4% |
| Value | APA | Lower P/E (13.4x vs 29.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | WDS | 24.1% net margin vs APA's 16.1% |
| Stability / Safety | WDS | Beta 0.82 vs APA's 1.55, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WDS | 5.1% yield; APA pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | APA | +51.5% vs WDS's +40.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WDS | 9.5% ROA vs APA's 8.1%, ROIC 6.3% vs 14.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Woodside Energy Group is an Australian oil and gas company that explores for, develops, and produces hydrocarbons — primarily liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude oil — from assets across Australia, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It generates revenue by selling LNG (its largest segment), pipeline gas, crude oil, condensate, and liquefied petroleum gas, with LNG exports to Asia being the dominant earnings driver. The company's competitive advantage lies in its ownership of large-scale, low-cost LNG production assets in Australia — particularly the North West Shelf and Pluto projects — which benefit from proximity to major Asian energy markets.
APA Corporation is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations primarily in the United States, Egypt, and the United Kingdom. It generates revenue from oil and natural gas sales — with production roughly split between U.S. onshore assets (primarily the Permian Basin) and international operations — supplemented by midstream income from its West Texas gathering and pipeline assets. The company's competitive advantage lies in its diversified geographic portfolio, which provides operational resilience, and its established position in the prolific Permian Basin.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
APA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). WDS leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
WDS is the larger business by revenue, generating $26.2B annually — 2.9x APA's $8.9B. WDS is the more profitable business, keeping 24.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to APA's 16.1%. On growth, WDS holds the edge at -11.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | WDSWoodside Energy G… | APAAPA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $26.2B | $8.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $18.6B | $5.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.3B | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.5B | $2.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.8% | +38.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +32.6% | +30.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.1% | +16.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -5.7% | +26.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.1% | -26.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -15.1% | -17.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 7.6x trailing earnings, APA trades at a 47% valuation discount to WDS's 14.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, APA's 2.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WDS's 5.0x.
| Metric | WDSWoodside Energy G… | APAAPA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.9B | $10.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $46.9B | $14.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.42x | 7.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 29.82x | 13.39x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.99x | 2.75x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.00x | 1.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.98x | 0.91x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 6.05x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WDS delivers a 15.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $12 for APA. WDS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.34x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to APA's 0.36x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), APA scores 6/9 vs WDS's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | WDSWoodside Energy G… | APAAPA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.8% | +11.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.5% | +8.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.3% | +14.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.6% | +17.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.34x | 0.36x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8.0B | $3.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.7B | $516M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13.7B | $4.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 109.20x | 11.87x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in APA five years ago would be worth $17,601 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,004 for WDS. Over the past 12 months, APA leads with a +51.5% total return vs WDS's +40.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WDS at 0.8% vs APA's -4.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WDSWoodside Energy G… | APAAPA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +28.1% | +20.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.1% | +51.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2.5% | -13.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +40.0% | +76.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +74.3% | +0.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +0.8% | -4.6% |
Risk & Volatility
WDS is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than APA's 1.55 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | WDSWoodside Energy G… | APAAPA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.55x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.51 | $30.39 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.26 | $13.58 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.9% | +99.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.6 | 61.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 777K | 5.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WDS as "Hold" and APA as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 36.7% upside for WDS (target: $28) vs -8.6% for APA (target: $28). WDS is the only dividend payer here at 5.13% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | WDSWoodside Energy G… | APAAPA Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.00 | $27.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 51 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +5.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.05 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside Energy Gro… (WDS) | 100 | 96.42 | -3.6% |
| APA Corporation (APA) | 100 | 103.89 | +3.9% |
APA Corporation (APA) returned +76% over 5 years vs Woodside Energy Gro… (WDS)'s +40%. A $10,000 investment in APA 5 years ago would be worth $17,601 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside Energy Gro… (WDS) | $4.1B | $13.0B | +218.6% |
| APA Corporation (APA) | $5.4B | $8.9B | +66.2% |
Woodside Energy Group Ltd's revenue grew from $4.1B (2016) to $13.0B (2025) — a 13.7% CAGR. APA Corporation's revenue grew from $5.4B (2016) to $8.9B (2025) — a 5.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside Energy Gro… (WDS) | 21.3% | 20.9% | -1.7% |
| APA Corporation (APA) | -26.2% | 16.1% | +161.4% |
Woodside Energy Group Ltd's net margin went from 21% (2016) to 21% (2025). APA Corporation's net margin went from -26% (2016) to 16% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside Energy Gro… (WDS) | 20.9 | 11 | -47.4% |
| APA Corporation (APA) | 12.4 | 6.1 | -50.8% |
Woodside Energy Group Ltd has traded in a 6x–65x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x. APA Corporation has traded in a 4x–263x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~8x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside Energy Gro… (WDS) | 1.04 | 1.42 | +36.5% |
| APA Corporation (APA) | -3.71 | 3.99 | +207.5% |
Woodside Energy Group Ltd's EPS grew from $1.04 (2016) to $1.42 (2025) — a 4% CAGR. APA Corporation's EPS grew from $-3.71 (2016) to $3.99 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Woodside Energy Group Ltd generated $-782M FCF in 2025 (-167% vs 2021). APA Corporation generated $2B FCF in 2025 (-25% vs 2021).
WDS vs APA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WDS or APA a better buy right now?
APA Corporation (APA) offers the better valuation at 7.6x trailing P/E (13.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS) a "Hold" — based on 2 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 — WDS or APA?
On trailing P/E, APA Corporation (APA) is the cheapest at 7.6x versus Woodside Energy Group Ltd at 14.4x. On forward P/E, APA Corporation is actually cheaper at 13.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WDS or APA?
Over the past 5 years, APA Corporation (APA) delivered a total return of +76.0%, compared to +40.0% for Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS). A $10,000 investment in APA five years ago would be worth approximately $18K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WDS returned +74.3% versus APA's +0.5%. 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 — WDS or APA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.82β versus APA Corporation's 1.55β — meaning APA is approximately 88% more volatile than WDS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 34% versus 36% for APA Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — WDS or APA?
Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS) is the more profitable company, earning 20.9% net margin versus 16.1% for APA Corporation — meaning it keeps 20.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APA leads at 30.8% versus 29.8% for WDS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APA leads at 37.3%, 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.
06Is WDS or APA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, APA Corporation (APA) trades at 13.4x forward P/E versus 29.8x for Woodside Energy Group Ltd — 16.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WDS: 36.7% to $28.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — WDS or APA?
In this comparison, WDS (5.1% yield) pays a dividend. APA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is WDS or APA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Woodside Energy Group Ltd (WDS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.82), 5.1% yield). APA Corporation (APA) carries a higher beta of 1.55 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WDS: +74.3%, APA: +0.5%), 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.
09What are the main differences between WDS and APA?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. WDS pays a dividend while APA does 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.
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