Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) versus ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Critical Contrast

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) and Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) are both energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

82.4% of ConocoPhillips shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of ConocoPhillips shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Green Plains shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares ConocoPhillips and Green Plains’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ConocoPhillips	14.22%	14.72%	7.77%
Green Plains	6.78%	14.52%	7.33%

Volatility & Risk

ConocoPhillips has a beta of 0.13, suggesting that its stock price is 87% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Green Plains has a beta of 1.16, suggesting that its stock price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for ConocoPhillips and Green Plains, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ConocoPhillips	2	8	17	1	2.61
Green Plains	3	3	3	0	2.00

ConocoPhillips presently has a consensus price target of $141.24, suggesting a potential upside of 0.08%. Green Plains has a consensus price target of $15.43, suggesting a potential upside of 3.76%. Given Green Plains’ higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Green Plains is more favorable than ConocoPhillips.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares ConocoPhillips and Green Plains”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ConocoPhillips	$61.55 billion	2.75	$7.99 billion	$7.56	18.67
Green Plains	$2.09 billion	0.50	-$121.28 million	$1.59	9.35

ConocoPhillips has higher revenue and earnings than Green Plains. Green Plains is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ConocoPhillips, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

ConocoPhillips beats Green Plains on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ConocoPhillips

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. ConocoPhillips was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

About Green Plains

Green Plains Inc. produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnership. The Ethanol Production segment produces ethanol, distillers grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil. The Agribusiness and Energy Services segment engages in the grain procurement, handling and storage, commodity marketing business; and trading of ethanol, distiller grains, renewable corn oil, grain, natural gas, and other commodities in various markets. This segment also provides grain drying and storage services to grain producers. The Partnership segment offers fuel storage and transportation services. It operates 24 ethanol storage facilities; two fuel terminal facilities; and a fleet of approximately 2,180 leased railcars. The company was formerly known as Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and changed its name to Green Plains Inc. in May 2014. Green Plains Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.