Murphy Oil (MUR) vs Valaris (VAL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Valaris (VAL) has outperformed Murphy Oil (MUR) over the past year, gaining 56.6% versus a gain of 23.8%. Over five years, VAL leads with a +129.3% price change compared with +30.6% for MUR. Valaris is the larger company by market cap ($5.68 billion vs $5.34 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Valaris trades at a lower forward P/E (11.6x vs 11.7x for Murphy Oil). Murphy Oil pays a dividend yielding 3.62%, while Valaris does not currently pay one. Valaris converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 41.5% versus 3.8%.
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 | MUR | VAL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $37.25 | $81.85 |
| Market cap | $5.34B | $5.68B |
| 1-day change | -1.43% | -0.18% |
| YTD return | +19.20% | +62.40% |
| 1-year return | +23.80% | +56.62% |
| 5-year return | +30.61% | +129.34% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.44 | 6.17 |
| Forward P/E | 11.71 | 11.59 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.02 | $13.26 |
| Dividend yield | 3.62% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.35 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.72B | $2.37B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -10.22% | +0.27% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $104.23M | $982.80M |
| Gross margin | 100.00% | 31.21% |
| Operating margin | 11.08% | 20.14% |
| Net margin | 3.83% | 41.49% |
| 52-week high | $43.34 | $114.12 |
| 52-week low | $26.49 | $46.70 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -14.05% | -28.28% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +7.95% | -16.57% |
| Average volume | 1.66M | 1.08M |
| Shares outstanding | 143.35M | 69.44M |
| Employees | 813 | 3,800 |
| 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
- VAL has outperformed MUR by 32.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Murphy Oil trades at a higher earnings multiple (18.4x vs 6.2x trailing P/E).
- Murphy Oil offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.62% vs 0.00%).
- Valaris is more profitable, keeping 41.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 3.8 cents for Murphy Oil.
- Valaris grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+0.27% vs -10.22%).
About Murphy Oil
MUR stock →Murphy Oil Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It explores for and produces crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 813 employees
About Valaris
VAL stock →Valaris Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore contract drilling services in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Gulf of America, Australia, Angola, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Floaters, Jackups, ARO, and Other.
Energy · Oil & Gas Production · 3,800 employees
MUR vs VAL FAQ
Which is bigger, Murphy Oil or Valaris?
Valaris (VAL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.68B compared with $5.34B for Murphy Oil (MUR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MUR or VAL?
VAL returned +56.62% over the past 12 months, compared with +23.80% for MUR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, MUR or VAL?
VAL has the lower trailing P/E at 6.2, versus 18.4 for MUR. 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, Murphy Oil or Valaris?
Murphy Oil pays a dividend yielding 3.62%, while Valaris does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Murphy Oil and Valaris in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Oil & Gas Production industry within the Energy sector.