Noble (NYSE:NE – Get Free Report) and SEACOR Marine (NYSE:SMHI – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Noble and SEACOR Marine”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Noble | $3.29 billion | 2.08 | $216.72 million | $0.33 | 129.62 |
| SEACOR Marine | $227.83 million | 1.06 | -$27.84 million | ($1.42) | -6.24 |
Noble has higher revenue and earnings than SEACOR Marine. SEACOR Marine is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Noble, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
68.1% of Noble shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 59.1% of SEACOR Marine shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of Noble shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 16.8% of SEACOR Marine shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares Noble and SEACOR Marine’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Noble | 1.79% | -0.76% | -0.46% |
| SEACOR Marine | -17.55% | -14.51% | -5.74% |
Risk & Volatility
Noble has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its share price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SEACOR Marine has a beta of 1.19, suggesting that its share price is 19% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Noble and SEACOR Marine, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Noble | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2.33 |
| SEACOR Marine | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
Noble currently has a consensus target price of $46.57, indicating a potential upside of 8.88%. SEACOR Marine has a consensus target price of $10.00, indicating a potential upside of 12.87%. Given SEACOR Marine’s higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe SEACOR Marine is more favorable than Noble.
Summary
Noble beats SEACOR Marine on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Noble
Noble Corporation plc, operating as Noble (NYSE: NE), provides contract drilling services to the offshore oil and gas industry. The company owns and operates a fleet of mobile offshore drilling units, including drillships, semisubmersible rigs and jackup rigs, and provides related services to energy companies exploring for and producing oil and natural gas. Noble serves customers in offshore markets around the world. Its operations support drilling in a range of water depths and environments, from shallow-water projects to deepwater and ultra-deepwater developments.
About SEACOR Marine
SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SMHI) provides marine transportation and support services to the offshore oil and gas industry. Its vessels help move personnel, equipment and supplies between shore bases and offshore installations. The company operates a range of offshore support vessels, including platform supply vessels, anchor-handling towing supply vessels and crew transport vessels. Its services also support offshore logistics, towing and anchor handling, and other marine operations. SEACOR Marine serves customers in international offshore markets, including regions in the Americas, West Africa and the Middle East.
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