PetroQuest Energy (OTCMKTS:PQUE – Get Free Report) and Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE – Get Free Report) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares PetroQuest Energy and Green Plains”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| PetroQuest Energy | $108.29 million | 0.00 | -$6.63 million | ($0.55) | -0.04 |
| Green Plains | $2.09 billion | 0.54 | -$121.28 million | $1.59 | 10.15 |
Profitability
This table compares PetroQuest Energy and Green Plains’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| PetroQuest Energy | -4.93% | N/A | -3.76% |
| Green Plains | 6.78% | 14.52% | 7.33% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for PetroQuest Energy and Green Plains, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| PetroQuest Energy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Green Plains | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2.00 |
Green Plains has a consensus target price of $15.43, indicating a potential downside of 4.41%. Given Green Plains’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Green Plains is more favorable than PetroQuest Energy.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
1.6% of PetroQuest Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 8.8% of PetroQuest Energy shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Green Plains shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Volatility and Risk
PetroQuest Energy has a beta of 1.56, indicating that its share price is 56% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Green Plains has a beta of 1.17, indicating that its share price is 17% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Green Plains beats PetroQuest Energy on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About PetroQuest Energy
PetroQuest Energy, Inc. operates as an independent oil and gas company in Texas and Louisiana. The company acquires, explores for, develops, and operates oil and gas properties. As of December 31, 2017, it had estimated proved reserves of 1.8 million barrels of oil; 19.4 billion cubic feet equivalent of natural gas liquids; and 125.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas. PetroQuest Energy, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana.
About Green Plains
Green Plains Inc. produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnership. The Ethanol Production segment produces ethanol, distillers grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil. The Agribusiness and Energy Services segment engages in the grain procurement, handling and storage, commodity marketing business; and trading of ethanol, distiller grains, renewable corn oil, grain, natural gas, and other commodities in various markets. This segment also provides grain drying and storage services to grain producers. The Partnership segment offers fuel storage and transportation services. It operates 24 ethanol storage facilities; two fuel terminal facilities; and a fleet of approximately 2,180 leased railcars. The company was formerly known as Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and changed its name to Green Plains Inc. in May 2014. Green Plains Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
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