Noble (NYSE:NE – Get Free Report) and SEACOR Marine (NYSE:SMHI – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk and dividends.
Institutional & Insider 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 endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Noble and SEACOR Marine”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Noble | $3.29 billion | 1.99 | $216.72 million | $0.33 | 124.17 |
| SEACOR Marine | $227.83 million | 1.04 | -$27.84 million | ($1.42) | -6.18 |
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.
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 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2.56 |
| SEACOR Marine | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
Noble presently has a consensus target price of $46.57, suggesting a potential upside of 13.66%. SEACOR Marine has a consensus target price of $10.00, suggesting a potential upside of 13.96%. Given SEACOR Marine’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe SEACOR Marine is more favorable than Noble.
Volatility and Risk
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.
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% |
Summary
Noble beats SEACOR Marine on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Noble
Noble Corp. Plc engages in the provision offshore drilling services for oil and gas industry. It focuses on a balanced fleet of floating and jackup rigs and the deployment of drilling rigs in oil and gas basins around the world. The company was founded by Lloyd Noble and Art Olson in 1921 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.
About SEACOR Marine
SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. provides marine and support transportation services to offshore oil, natural gas, and windfarm facilities worldwide. Its offshore support and specialty vessels deliver cargo and personnel to offshore installations, including offshore wind farms; handle anchors and mooring equipment for offshore rigs and platforms; assist offshore operations for production and storage facilities; provide construction, well work-over, and offshore wind farm installation and decommissioning support; and carry and launch equipment used underwater in drilling and well installation, maintenance, inspection, and repair, as well as offer accommodations for technicians and specialists, safety support, and emergency response services. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a fleet of 58 support vessels, of which 55 were owned or leased-in, and three were managed on behalf of unaffiliated third parties. It serves integrated national and international oil companies, independent oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, and oil field service and construction companies, as well as offshore wind farm operators and offshore wind farm installation and maintenance companies. SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
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