Vista Energy (NYSE:VIST – Get Free Report) and Viper Energy (NASDAQ:VNOM – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
63.8% of Vista Energy shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 87.7% of Viper Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Viper Energy shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Vista Energy and Viper Energy”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Vista Energy | $2.47 billion | 2.79 | $719.06 million | $7.58 | 8.74 |
| Viper Energy | $1.40 billion | 11.07 | -$68.00 million | $0.13 | 330.69 |
Vista Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Viper Energy. Vista Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Viper Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Volatility and Risk
Vista Energy has a beta of 0.68, indicating that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Viper Energy has a beta of 0.5, indicating that its stock price is 50% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Vista Energy and Viper Energy, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Vista Energy | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2.83 |
| Viper Energy | 0 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 3.00 |
Vista Energy currently has a consensus target price of $83.44, suggesting a potential upside of 25.94%. Viper Energy has a consensus target price of $56.53, suggesting a potential upside of 31.50%. Given Viper Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Viper Energy is more favorable than Vista Energy.
Profitability
This table compares Vista Energy and Viper Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Vista Energy | 23.56% | 20.26% | 7.25% |
| Viper Energy | 2.89% | 3.43% | 2.85% |
Summary
Viper Energy beats Vista Energy on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Vista Energy
Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Latin America. The company's principal assets located in Neuquina basin, Argentina and Vaca Muerta. It owns producing assets in Argentina and Mexico. In addition, the company involved in drilling and workover activities located in Argentina. The company was formerly known as Vista Oil & Gas, S.A.B. de C.V. and changed its name to Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. in April 2022. Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Mexico City, Mexico.
About Viper Energy
Viper Energy, Inc. engages in the acquisition of oil and natural gas properties. It owns, acquires, and exploits oil and natural gas properties in North America. The company was founded on February 27, 2014 and is headquartered in Midland, TX.
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