Expand Energy (NASDAQ:EXE) & Yankuang Energy Group (OTCMKTS:YZCAY) Critical Comparison

Yankuang Energy Group (OTCMKTS:YZCAY) and Expand Energy (NASDAQ:EXE) are both large-cap energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, earnings and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Yankuang Energy Group and Expand Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Yankuang Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A
Expand Energy	7.99%	6.31%	4.02%

Dividends

Yankuang Energy Group pays an annual dividend of $0.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Expand Energy pays an annual dividend of $2.30 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Yankuang Energy Group pays out 21.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Expand Energy pays out 65.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Yankuang Energy Group is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

97.9% of Expand Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Expand Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

Yankuang Energy Group has a beta of 0.25, suggesting that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Expand Energy has a beta of 0.46, suggesting that its share price is 54% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Yankuang Energy Group and Expand Energy”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Yankuang Energy Group	$17.32 billion	N/A	$1.96 billion	$1.65	8.41
Expand Energy	$4.24 billion	5.78	-$714.00 million	$3.52	29.22

Yankuang Energy Group has higher revenue and earnings than Expand Energy. Yankuang Energy Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Expand Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Yankuang Energy Group and Expand Energy, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Yankuang Energy Group	0	1	0	0	2.00
Expand Energy	0	3	18	1	2.91

Expand Energy has a consensus target price of $129.28, indicating a potential upside of 25.71%. Given Expand Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Expand Energy is more favorable than Yankuang Energy Group.

Summary

Expand Energy beats Yankuang Energy Group on 12 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Yankuang Energy Group

Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited engages in the mining, preparation, and sale of coal in China and internationally. It offers thermal, PCI, and coking coal for electric power, metallurgy, chemical industry, etc.; manufactures, installs, and sells mining equipment and machinery; manufactures and sells coal mining and excavating equipment, cable, and rubber products; manufactures and sells methanol, acetic acid, ethyl acetate, caprolactam, naphtha, crude liquid wax, etc.; produces and sells chemicals and synthesis catalyst; explores for potash mineral; and sells coal mine machinery equipment and accessories, construction materials, petroleum products, and mineral products. The company also provides electricity and related heat supply; railway, river, and lakes transportation; coal mining technology development, transfer, and consultation; underground mines and coal mine management; supply chain management; factoring; engineering; water pollution control; equity investment fund and corporate asset management, investment advisory and corporate management, foreign investment fund, and trading services; solar and wind power, and production management; and financial services, as well as operates as a trade broker and agent. In addition, it engages in the processing, sale, and transportation of coal; coal resource exploration development; LTCC technology development and equipment rental activities; house and financial leasing; wholesale of coal and non-ferrous metals; real estate development and operation, and property management; investment and management of mineral resources; and logistics storage and leasing activities. The company was formerly known as Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited and changed its name to Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited in December 2021. The company was founded in 1973 and is based in Zoucheng, the People's Republic of China. Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited is a subsidiary of Shandong Energy Group Co.,Ltd.

About Expand Energy

Expand Energy Corporation is an independent natural gas producer principally in the United States. Expand Energy Corporation, formerly known as Chesapeake Energy Corporation, is based in OKLAHOMA CITY.