Core Laboratories (CLB) vs Natural Gas Services Group (NGS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Natural Gas Services Group (NGS) has outperformed Core Laboratories (CLB) over the past year, gaining 22.2% versus a loss of 15.2%. Over five years, NGS leads with a +164.9% price change compared with -67.9% for CLB. Core Laboratories is the larger company by market cap ($464.8 million vs $431.6 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Natural Gas Services Group trades at a lower forward P/E (12.8x vs 14.7x for Core Laboratories). Natural Gas Services Group offers the higher dividend yield (1.40% vs 0.39%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CLB | NGS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $10.13 | $33.46 |
| Market cap | $464.81M | $431.58M |
| 1-day change | +0.20% | +0.66% |
| YTD return | -36.93% | -1.22% |
| 1-year return | -15.18% | +22.21% |
| 5-year return | -67.95% | +164.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.48 | 20.78 |
| Forward P/E | 14.68 | 12.82 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.52 | $1.61 |
| Dividend yield | 0.39% | 1.40% |
| Annual dividend | $0.04 | $0.47 |
| 52-week high | $20.36 | $44.61 |
| 52-week low | $9.63 | $25.53 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -50.25% | -24.99% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +48.08% | +67.36% |
| Average volume | 630.43K | 121.12K |
| Shares outstanding | 45.88M | 12.90M |
| Employees | 3,300 | 259 |
| Sector | Energy | Energy |
| Industry | Oilfield Services/Equipment | Oilfield Services/Equipment |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- NGS has outperformed CLB by 37.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Natural Gas Services Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.40% vs 0.39%).
About Core Laboratories
CLB stock →Core Laboratories Inc. provides reservoir description and production enhancement services and products to the oil and gas industry in the United States, and internationally.
Energy · Oilfield Services/Equipment · 3,300 employees
About Natural Gas Services Group
NGS stock →Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. provides natural gas compression equipment, flares and related assets; and electric compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry in the United States.
Energy · Oilfield Services/Equipment · 259 employees
CLB vs NGS FAQ
Which is bigger, Core Laboratories or Natural Gas Services Group?
Core Laboratories (CLB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $464.81M compared with $431.58M for Natural Gas Services Group (NGS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CLB or NGS?
NGS returned +22.21% over the past 12 months, compared with -15.18% for CLB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CLB or NGS?
CLB has the lower trailing P/E at 19.5, versus 20.8 for NGS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Core Laboratories or Natural Gas Services Group?
Natural Gas Services Group has the higher yield at 1.40%, compared with 0.39% for Core Laboratories.
Are Core Laboratories and Natural Gas Services Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Oilfield Services/Equipment industry within the Energy sector.