Helmerich & Payne (HP) vs Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) has outperformed Helmerich & Payne (HP) over the past year, gaining 89.4% versus a gain of 67.0%. Over five years, PTEN leads with a +23.7% price change compared with +21.0% for HP. Patterson-UTI Energy is the larger company by market cap ($4.28 billion vs $3.96 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Helmerich & Payne is growing revenue faster (+35.9% vs -10.3%).
On valuation, Helmerich & Payne trades at a lower forward P/E (25.5x vs 32.0x for Patterson-UTI Energy). Patterson-UTI Energy offers the higher dividend yield (3.21% vs 2.52%). Patterson-UTI Energy converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of -1.9% versus -4.4%.
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 | HP | PTEN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $39.64 | $11.23 |
| Market cap | $3.96B | $4.28B |
| 1-day change | +0.08% | -1.58% |
| YTD return | +38.21% | +83.80% |
| 1-year return | +67.05% | +89.38% |
| 5-year return | +21.00% | +23.68% |
| Forward P/E | 25.50 | 31.99 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-1.39 | $-0.24 |
| Dividend yield | 2.52% | 3.21% |
| Annual dividend | $1.00 | $0.36 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.75B | $4.83B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +35.89% | -10.25% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-163.69M | $-93.64M |
| Gross margin | 32.96% | — |
| Operating margin | 0.09% | -0.85% |
| Net margin | -4.37% | -1.94% |
| 52-week high | $48.17 | $13.39 |
| 52-week low | $21.73 | $5.24 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.71% | -16.13% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.85% | +24.04% |
| Average volume | 1.20M | 8.32M |
| Shares outstanding | 99.94M | 381.38M |
| Employees | 15,700 | 7,900 |
| Sector | Energy | Energy |
| Industry | Oil & Gas Production | Oil & Gas Production |
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
- PTEN has outperformed HP by 22.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Helmerich & Payne grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+35.89% vs -10.25%).
About Helmerich & Payne
HP stock →Helmerich & Payne, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides drilling solutions and technologies for oil and gas exploration and production companies. The company operates through North America Solutions, Offshore Solutions, and International Solutions segments.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 15,700 employees
About Patterson-UTI Energy
PTEN stock →Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides drilling and completion services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States, Canada, Colombia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Drilling Services, Completion Services, and Drilling Products.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 7,900 employees
HP vs PTEN FAQ
Which is bigger, Helmerich & Payne or Patterson-UTI Energy?
Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.28B compared with $3.96B for Helmerich & Payne (HP).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HP or PTEN?
PTEN returned +89.38% over the past 12 months, compared with +67.05% for HP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Helmerich & Payne or Patterson-UTI Energy?
Patterson-UTI Energy has the higher yield at 3.21%, compared with 2.52% for Helmerich & Payne.
Are Helmerich & Payne and Patterson-UTI Energy in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Oil & Gas Production industry within the Energy sector.