Halliburton (HAL) vs Cactus (WHD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Cactus (WHD) has outperformed Halliburton (HAL) over the past year, gaining 73.2% versus a gain of 30.2%. Over five years, WHD leads with a +50.4% price change compared with +21.5% for HAL. Halliburton is the larger company by market cap ($26.45 billion vs $4.40 billion), about 6.0 times the size.
On valuation, Halliburton trades at a lower forward P/E (10.9x vs 17.3x for Cactus). Halliburton offers the higher dividend yield (2.14% vs 0.89%). Cactus converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 15.4% versus 5.8%.
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 | HAL | WHD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $31.75 | $63.10 |
| Market cap | $26.45B | $4.40B |
| 1-day change | -2.96% | -1.67% |
| YTD return | +11.84% | +38.13% |
| 1-year return | +30.17% | +73.16% |
| 5-year return | +21.51% | +50.42% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 16.71 | 53.03 |
| Forward P/E | 10.95 | 17.28 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.90 | $1.19 |
| Dividend yield | 2.14% | 0.89% |
| Annual dividend | $0.68 | $0.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $22.18B | $1.08B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -3.31% | -4.49% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.28B | $166.01M |
| Gross margin | — | 37.02% |
| Operating margin | 10.19% | 23.21% |
| Net margin | 5.78% | 15.39% |
| 52-week high | $43.59 | $74.07 |
| 52-week low | $21.46 | $33.20 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.16% | -14.81% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +36.82% | +11.28% |
| Average volume | 11.10M | 775.95K |
| Shares outstanding | 833.13M | 69.73M |
| Employees | 46,000 | 1,500 |
| Sector | Energy | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Oilfield Services/Equipment | Oil and Gas Field Machinery |
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
- Halliburton is about 6.0 times larger than Cactus by market value ($26.45B vs $4.40B).
- WHD has outperformed HAL by 43.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Cactus trades at a higher earnings multiple (53.0x vs 16.7x trailing P/E).
- Halliburton offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.14% vs 0.89%).
- Cactus is more profitable, keeping 15.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 5.8 cents for Halliburton.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Halliburton in Energy and Cactus in Consumer Discretionary.
About Halliburton
HAL stock →Halliburton Company provides products and services to the energy industry worldwide. It operates in two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation.
Energy · Oilfield Services/Equipment · 46,000 employees
About Cactus
WHD stock →Cactus, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and rents engineered pressure control and spoolable pipe technologies in the United States, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and internationally. The company operates in two segments: Pressure Control and Spoolable Technologies.
Consumer Discretionary · Oil and Gas Field Machinery · 1,500 employees
HAL vs WHD FAQ
Which is bigger, Halliburton or Cactus?
Halliburton (HAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $26.45B compared with $4.40B for Cactus (WHD).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HAL or WHD?
WHD returned +73.16% over the past 12 months, compared with +30.17% for HAL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HAL or WHD?
HAL has the lower trailing P/E at 16.7, versus 53.0 for WHD. 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, Halliburton or Cactus?
Halliburton has the higher yield at 2.14%, compared with 0.89% for Cactus.
Are Halliburton and Cactus in the same industry?
No. Halliburton is in the Energy sector, while Cactus is in Consumer Discretionary.