Head to Head Review: National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) and Prairie Operating (NASDAQ:PROP)

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) and Prairie Operating (NASDAQ:PROP) are both energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares National Fuel Gas and Prairie Operating’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
National Fuel Gas	11.15%	20.81%	7.03%
Prairie Operating	N/A	21.04%	2.69%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

74.0% of National Fuel Gas shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.3% of Prairie Operating shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of National Fuel Gas shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 15.4% of Prairie Operating shares are owned 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 National Fuel Gas and Prairie Operating”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
National Fuel Gas	$1.94 billion	4.04	$77.51 million	$2.66	32.70
Prairie Operating	$7.94 million	13.87	-$40.91 million	($3.00)	-0.73

National Fuel Gas has higher revenue and earnings than Prairie Operating. Prairie Operating is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than National Fuel Gas, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

National Fuel Gas has a beta of 0.65, suggesting that its share price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Prairie Operating has a beta of 2.01, suggesting that its share price is 101% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for National Fuel Gas and Prairie Operating, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
National Fuel Gas	0	2	2	1	2.80
Prairie Operating	0	2	3	0	2.60

National Fuel Gas currently has a consensus price target of $96.6667, indicating a potential upside of 11.13%. Prairie Operating has a consensus price target of $8.50, indicating a potential upside of 288.13%. Given Prairie Operating’s higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Prairie Operating is more favorable than National Fuel Gas.

Summary

National Fuel Gas beats Prairie Operating on 9 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About National Fuel Gas

National Fuel Gas Company operates as a diversified energy company. It operates through four segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, and Utility. The Exploration and Production segment explores for, develops, and produces natural gas and oil. The Pipeline and Storage segment provides interstate natural gas transportation services through an integrated gas pipeline system in Pennsylvania and New York; and owns and operates underground natural gas storage fields. This segment also transports natural gas for National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, as well as for other utilities, industrial companies, and power producers in New York State. The Gathering segment builds, owns, and operates natural gas processing and pipeline gathering facilities in the Appalachian region, as well as provides gathering services to Seneca. The Utility segment sells natural gas or provides natural gas utility services to various customers in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Jamestown, New York; and Erie and Sharon, Pennsylvania. National Fuel Gas Company was incorporated in 1902 and is headquartered in Williamsville, New York.

About Prairie Operating

Prairie Operating Co., an independent energy company, engages in the development, exploration, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company holds assets in the Denver-Julesburg Basin in Colorado; and the Niobrara and Codell formations. Prairie Operating Co. is based in Houston Texas.