Plains All American Pipeline LP (PAA)vsWilliams Companies Inc (WMB)
PAA
Plains All American Pipeline LP
$26.10
+1.50%
ENERGY · Cap: $18.32B
WMB
Williams Companies Inc
$72.85
+0.76%
ENERGY · Cap: $89.11B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Plains All American Pipeline LP generates 324% more annual revenue ($52.30B vs $12.32B). WMB leads profitability with a 24.9% profit margin vs 5.3%. WMB appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.07. WMB earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 69/100 (B-).
PAA
Strong Buy68
out of 100
Grade: B-
WMB
Strong Buy69
out of 100
Grade: B-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Revenue surging 66.3% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 1077.0% YoY
Every $100 of equity generates 25 in profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 39.5%
Earnings expanding 51.2% YoY
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 23 in profit
Keeps 25 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
5.3% margin — thin
Operating margin of 2.8%
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Moderate valuation
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : PAA
The strongest argument for PAA centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth, Return on Equity. Revenue growth of 66.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : WMB
The strongest argument for WMB centers on Operating Margin, EPS Growth, Market Cap. Profitability is solid with margins at 24.9% and operating margin at 39.5%.
Bear Case : PAA
The primary concerns for PAA are PEG Ratio, Profit Margin, Operating Margin.
Bear Case : WMB
The primary concerns for WMB are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Free Cash Flow. Debt-to-equity of 2.33 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
PAA profiles as a hypergrowth stock while WMB is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
WMB carries more volatility with a beta of 0.62 — expect wider price swings.
PAA is growing revenue faster at 66.3% — sustainability is the question.
PAA generates stronger free cash flow (817M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WMB scores higher overall (69/100 vs 68/100), backed by strong 24.9% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Plains All American Pipeline LP
ENERGY · OIL & GAS MIDSTREAM · USA
Plains All American Pipeline, LP, is engaged in the transportation, completion, storage and collection of crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) through pipelines in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Williams Companies Inc
ENERGY · OIL & GAS MIDSTREAM · USA
The Williams Companies, Inc., is an American energy company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its core business is natural gas processing and transportation, with additional petroleum and electricity generation assets.
Compare with Other OIL & GAS MIDSTREAM Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?