ONEOKDiamondback Energy

ONEOK vs Diamondback Energy

This page compares ONEOK Inc. and Diamondback Energy, Inc., examining business models, financial performance, and market context. The presentation aims to be neutral and accessible, helping readers un...

Why It's Moving

ONEOK

ONEOK shares drift as investors parse recent earnings, strategic funding moves and buy-side interest

  • Earnings and guidance: ONEOK reported Q3 results that roughly matched consensus—EPS and adjusted EBITDA showed improvement driven by recent acquisitions and higher NGL throughput, and the firm maintained full‑year guidance, which signals management’s confidence in near‑term cash generation and synergy capture.
  • Funding activity: The company expanded its commercial paper program and issued senior notes while using proceeds to pay down some maturities and support capital projects, a move that investors interpret as shoring up liquidity for growth projects but also keeps leverage squarely in focus.
  • Institutional buying and analyst reaction: A disclosed incremental stake by a large institutional investor this week coincided with mixed analyst commentary—some highlight ongoing merger synergies and dividend yield as positives, while others point to valuation and near‑term execution risks, creating modest volatility in the stock.
Sentiment:
⚖️Neutral
Diamondback Energy

Diamondback trims 2025 spending and sees short-term investor exits — shares react to a more conservative growth stance.

  • Capex cut: Diamondback reduced its 2025 capital expenditures by about $500 million (roughly 13% below prior guidance), a move that reduces planned drilling activity and implies slower near‑term production growth while improving free‑cash‑flow potential and capital discipline.
  • Institutional repositioning: Large asset managers have recently trimmed positions in Diamondback, with filings showing firms reducing holdings — a sign some institutional investors are taking profits or rotating away after the company’s earlier strong earnings run.
  • Earnings/dividend context: The company’s November quarter beat consensus on EPS and revenue and continues to pay a $1.00 quarterly dividend, so the capex pullback is being read as a deliberate shift from growth-at-all-costs toward cash returns and balance‑sheet prudence.
Sentiment:
⚖️Neutral

Which Baskets Do They Appear In?

Oil & Gas

Oil & Gas

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Published: May 15, 2025

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Investment Analysis

Pros

  • ONEOK has a strong infrastructure footprint with natural gas pipelines and processing plants across key U.S. regions, supporting stable cash flow generation.
  • Analysts hold a consensus 'Buy' rating on ONEOK, projecting substantial share price appreciation potential of around 40% within the next year.
  • The company returned value to shareholders through a robust quarterly dividend yielding approximately 6%, reflecting steady income distribution.

Considerations

  • ONEOK’s stock price has declined substantially in 2025, dropping over 30% year-to-date amid sector headwinds and regulatory concerns.
  • The company’s relatively high debt-to-equity ratio and low quick ratio suggest potential liquidity and financial risk challenges.
  • ONEOK’s net profit margin near 11% is significantly lower than some peers, indicating relatively less profitability efficiency.

Pros

  • Diamondback Energy demonstrates strong profitability with a net margin exceeding 27%, substantially outperforming many industry peers including ONEOK.
  • The company has a large market cap around $41 billion and has maintained solid earnings, providing operational scale and stability.
  • Diamondback trades at a more affordable price-to-earnings ratio than ONEOK, indicating potentially better valuation on earnings basis.

Considerations

  • Diamondback has lower total revenue than ONEOK despite higher net margins, reflecting smaller scale in overall operations.
  • The company’s stock has experienced significant volatility with a price decline over 20% in the past year, exposing investors to market risks.
  • Diamondback’s media sentiment shows less frequent positive mentions compared to ONEOK, which may suggest comparatively lower market favourability.

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