Critical Contrast: Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) vs. Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG)

Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) and Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG) are both mid-cap energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends and risk.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

98.8% of Northern Oil and Gas shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of Gulfport Energy shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.8% of Northern Oil and Gas shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Gulfport Energy and Northern Oil and Gas, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Gulfport Energy	0	6	8	1	2.67
Northern Oil and Gas	2	4	4	0	2.20

Gulfport Energy presently has a consensus target price of $230.22, suggesting a potential upside of 36.63%. Northern Oil and Gas has a consensus target price of $33.00, suggesting a potential upside of 48.88%. Given Northern Oil and Gas’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Northern Oil and Gas is more favorable than Gulfport Energy.

Risk & Volatility

Gulfport Energy has a beta of 0.41, suggesting that its stock price is 59% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Northern Oil and Gas has a beta of 0.68, suggesting that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Gulfport Energy and Northern Oil and Gas”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Gulfport Energy	$1.42 billion	2.13	$427.81 million	$29.27	5.76
Northern Oil and Gas	$2.48 billion	0.94	$38.76 million	($6.37)	-3.48

Gulfport Energy has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Northern Oil and Gas. Northern Oil and Gas is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Gulfport Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Gulfport Energy and Northern Oil and Gas’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Gulfport Energy	35.72%	23.51%	14.19%
Northern Oil and Gas	-33.17%	18.43%	7.14%

Summary

Gulfport Energy beats Northern Oil and Gas on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Gulfport Energy

Gulfport Energy Corporation engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. Its principal properties include Utica Shale covering an area approximately 187,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Eastern Ohio; and SCOOP covering an area approximately 74,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Garvin, Grady, and Stephens. As of December 31, 2021, it had 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent to proved reserves; and proved undeveloped reserves comprising 8 MMbbl oil and 22 MMBbl NGL, and 1,550 Bcf natural gas. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

About Northern Oil and Gas

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, exploitation, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It primarily holds interests in the Williston Basin, the Appalachian Basin, and the Permian Basin in the United States. The company is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota.