Vista Energy (NYSE:VIST – Get Free Report) and OPAL Fuels (NASDAQ:OPAL – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations and dividends.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Vista Energy and OPAL Fuels, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Vista Energy | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2.83 |
| OPAL Fuels | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.33 |
Vista Energy presently has a consensus target price of $83.44, suggesting a potential upside of 29.26%. OPAL Fuels has a consensus target price of $2.40, suggesting a potential upside of 37.14%. Given OPAL Fuels’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe OPAL Fuels is more favorable than Vista Energy.
Earnings & Valuation
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Vista Energy | $2.47 billion | 2.72 | $719.06 million | $7.58 | 8.52 |
| OPAL Fuels | $348.98 million | 0.88 | $14.75 million | ($0.01) | -175.00 |
Vista Energy has higher revenue and earnings than OPAL Fuels. OPAL Fuels is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Vista Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Risk & Volatility
Vista Energy has a beta of 0.63, indicating that its stock price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, OPAL Fuels has a beta of 0.74, indicating that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Vista Energy and OPAL Fuels’ 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% |
| OPAL Fuels | 0.65% | 15.54% | 0.22% |
Institutional and Insider Ownership
63.8% of Vista Energy shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 12.2% of OPAL Fuels shares are held by institutional investors. 85.7% of OPAL Fuels shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Summary
Vista Energy beats OPAL Fuels on 11 of the 14 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 OPAL Fuels
OPAL Fuels Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and distribution of renewable natural gas for use as a vehicle fuel for heavy and medium-duty trucking fleets. It also designs, develops, constructs, operates, and services fueling stations for trucking fleets that use natural gas to displace diesel as transportation fuel. In addition, it offers design, development, and construction services for hydrogen fueling stations. Further, the company engages in the generation and sale of renewable power to utilities. OPAL Fuels Inc. is based in White Plains, New York.
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