CVE vs. WMB: Cenovus Energy vs. Williams Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though CVE is classified under Integrated Oil & Gas while WMB falls under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation.

Company profile comparison for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Profile Item	CVE	WMB
Name	Cenovus Energy Inc.	The Williams Companies, Inc.
Country/Region	Canada	United States
GICS Sector	Energy	Energy
GICS Industry Group	Energy	Energy
GICS Industry	Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels	Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
GICS Sub-Industry	Integrated Oil & Gas	Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation
Market Capitalization	49.61 billion USD	80.11 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 17, 2009	December 31, 1981
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CVE

WMB

GSPC

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
Total Return (1Y)	60.99%	14.81%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.41%	28.70%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	18.63%	23.72%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CVE

WMB

GSPC

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	37.47%	26.38%
Beta (5Y)	0.43	0.65
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-53.51%	-23.01%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.90M	7.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CVE and WMB are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.51	0.40
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.20	0.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 27.44% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Williams (WMB) at 18.31% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CVE.

CVE

Energy industry group

27.44%

Max: 53.85%
CVE: 27.44%
Q3: 24.79%
Median: 12.85%
Q1: 2.03%
Min: -29.09%

WMB

Energy industry group

18.31%

Max: 53.85%
Q3: 24.79%
WMB: 18.31%
Median: 12.85%
Q1: 2.03%
Min: -29.09%

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their ROE against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Williams (WMB) at 24.66% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 15.42%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CVE

Energy industry group

15.42%

Max: 56.92%
Q3: 22.92%
CVE: 15.42%
Median: 10.10%
Q1: 0.07%
Min: -27.38%

WMB

Energy industry group

24.66%

Max: 56.92%
WMB: 24.66%
Q3: 22.92%
Median: 10.10%
Q1: 0.07%
Min: -27.38%

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their net margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 26.58% and Williams (WMB) at 32.69% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CVE

Energy industry group

26.58%

Max: 71.31%
Q3: 33.75%
CVE: 26.58%
Median: 18.73%
Q1: 6.94%
Min: -24.52%

WMB

Energy industry group

32.69%

Max: 71.31%
Q3: 33.75%
WMB: 32.69%
Median: 18.73%
Q1: 6.94%
Min: -24.52%

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their operating margin against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
ROE (TTM)	27.44%	18.31%
ROA (TTM)	12.05%	4.59%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.42%	24.66%
Operating Margin (TTM)	26.58%	32.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)	33.92%	63.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Williams (WMB) at 13.78% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Cenovus Energy (CVE) at -8.62% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 28.74% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Williams (WMB) at 17.58% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for CVE.

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-8.62%	13.78%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-9.75%	2.91%
EPS Growth (YoY)	28.74%	17.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-12.42%	8.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 1.64 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Williams (WMB) at 0.75 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WMB.

CVE

Energy industry group

1.64

Max: 3.64
Q3: 2.21
CVE: 1.64
Median: 1.41
Q1: 0.88
Min: 0.24

WMB

Energy industry group

0.75

Max: 3.64
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.41
Q1: 0.88
WMB: 0.75
Min: 0.24

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their current ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 0.33 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Williams (WMB) at 1.58 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CVE

Energy industry group

0.33

Max: 1.75
Q3: 0.93
Median: 0.54
CVE: 0.33
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

WMB

Energy industry group

1.58

Max: 1.75
WMB: 1.58
Q3: 0.93
Median: 0.54
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.64	0.75
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.33	1.58
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.35	4.58

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 3.04% and Williams (WMB) at 3.23% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CVE

Energy industry group

3.04%

Max: 8.57%
Q3: 3.58%
CVE: 3.04%
Median: 1.71%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WMB

Energy industry group

3.23%

Max: 8.57%
Q3: 3.58%
WMB: 3.23%
Median: 1.71%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 22.84% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Williams (WMB) at 81.69% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CVE

Energy industry group

22.84%

Max: 133.24%
Q3: 53.31%
Median: 25.24%
CVE: 22.84%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WMB

Energy industry group

81.69%

Max: 133.24%
WMB: 81.69%
Q3: 53.31%
Median: 25.24%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.04%	3.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	22.84%	81.69%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 10.56 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 25.23 sits in the richer quartile — WMB needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CVE

Energy industry group

10.56

Max: 39.54
Q3: 21.72
Median: 12.19
CVE: 10.56
Q1: 7.71
Min: 2.99

WMB

Energy industry group

25.23

Max: 39.54
WMB: 25.23
Q3: 21.72
Median: 12.19
Q1: 7.71
Min: 2.99

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 0.88 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Williams (WMB) at 6.32 prices above its industry range — a wide gap in sales valuation between them.

CVE

Energy industry group

0.88

Max: 5.40
Q3: 2.85
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.88
CVE: 0.88
Min: 0.00

WMB

Energy industry group

6.32

WMB: 6.32
Max: 5.40
Q3: 2.85
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.88
Min: 0.00

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Cenovus Energy (CVE) at 1.98 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Williams (WMB) at 5.11 prices above its benchmark range — WMB looks rich relative to book.

CVE

Energy industry group

1.98

Max: 4.21
Q3: 2.38
CVE: 1.98
Median: 1.51
Q1: 1.08
Min: 0.01

WMB

Energy industry group

5.11

WMB: 5.11
Max: 4.21
Q3: 2.38
Median: 1.51
Q1: 1.08
Min: 0.01

Cenovus Energy (CVE) vs. Williams (WMB): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Energy industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Cenovus Energy (CVE) and Williams (WMB)
Metric	CVE	WMB
P/E Ratio (TTM)	10.56	25.23
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.88	6.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.98	5.11
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	20.71%	-3.56%