Comparing Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) and Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG)

Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) and Golar LNG (NASDAQ:GLNG) are both mid-cap energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, earnings, valuation and risk.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Gulfport Energy and Golar LNG”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Gulfport Energy	$1.42 billion	1.90	$427.81 million	$25.00	6.12
Golar LNG	$393.52 million	12.37	$65.68 million	$1.60	30.03

Gulfport Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Golar LNG. Gulfport Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Golar LNG, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Gulfport Energy and Golar LNG, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Gulfport Energy	1	9	5	1	2.38
Golar LNG	0	2	4	1	2.86

Gulfport Energy currently has a consensus price target of $210.50, suggesting a potential upside of 37.61%. Golar LNG has a consensus price target of $64.25, suggesting a potential upside of 33.71%. Given Gulfport Energy’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Gulfport Energy is more favorable than Golar LNG.

Volatility and Risk

Gulfport Energy has a beta of 0.43, indicating that its stock price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Golar LNG has a beta of 0.05, indicating that its stock price is 95% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

92.2% of Golar LNG shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of Gulfport Energy shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.0% of Golar LNG shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Gulfport Energy and Golar LNG’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Gulfport Energy	32.28%	21.87%	13.08%
Golar LNG	31.27%	8.91%	3.75%

Summary

Gulfport Energy beats Golar LNG on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Gulfport Energy

Gulfport Energy Corporation engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. Its principal properties include Utica Shale covering an area approximately 187,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Eastern Ohio; and SCOOP covering an area approximately 74,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Garvin, Grady, and Stephens. As of December 31, 2021, it had 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent to proved reserves; and proved undeveloped reserves comprising 8 MMbbl oil and 22 MMBbl NGL, and 1,550 Bcf natural gas. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

About Golar LNG

Golar LNG Limited designs, converts, owns, and operates marine infrastructure for the liquefaction of natural gas. The company operates through three segments: FLNG, Corporate and Other, and Shipping. It engages in the regasification, storage, and offloading of liquefied natural gas (LNG); operation of floating liquefaction natural gas (FLNG) vessels or projects; transportation of LNG carriers; and vessel management activities. Golar LNG Limited was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.