EC vs. FRO: Ecopetrol vs. Frontline Stock Comparison
How do Ecopetrol (EC) and Frontline (FRO) 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
Ecopetrol (EC) and Frontline (FRO) both belong to the Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels industry, though EC is classified under Integrated Oil & Gas while FRO falls under Oil & Gas Storage & Transportation.
Frontline (FRO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Ecopetrol (EC) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ecopetrol S.A. Sponsored ADR | Frontline plc Ordinary Shares |
| Country/Region | Colombia | Cyprus |
| 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 | 31.97 billion USD | 10.11 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 18, 2008 | August 6, 2001 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 64.75% | 119.28% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 23.69% | 40.57% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.32% | 52.54% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 40.27% | 46.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.45 | 0.22 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -48.60% | -52.04% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.62M | 3.68M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.50 | 2.49 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.38 | 3.74 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 53.85% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 15.95% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FRO.
EC
Energy industry group
15.95%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 24.79%
- EC
- 15.95%
- Median
- 12.85%
- Q1
- 2.03%
- Min
- -29.09%
FRO
Energy industry group
53.85%
- FRO
- 53.85%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 24.79%
- Median
- 12.85%
- Q1
- 2.03%
- Min
- -29.09%
Net Margin (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 54.76% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Ecopetrol (EC) at 10.23%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
EC
Energy industry group
10.23%
- Max
- 56.92%
- Q3
- 22.92%
- EC
- 10.23%
- Median
- 10.10%
- Q1
- 0.07%
- Min
- -27.38%
FRO
Energy industry group
54.76%
- Max
- 56.92%
- FRO
- 54.76%
- Q3
- 22.92%
- Median
- 10.10%
- Q1
- 0.07%
- Min
- -27.38%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 65.83% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 0.00% operates in the bottom quartile.
EC
Energy industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 71.31%
- Q3
- 33.75%
- Median
- 18.73%
- Q1
- 6.94%
- EC
- 0.00%
- Min
- -24.52%
FRO
Energy industry group
65.83%
- Max
- 71.31%
- FRO
- 65.83%
- Q3
- 33.75%
- Median
- 18.73%
- Q1
- 6.94%
- Min
- -24.52%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 15.95% | 53.85% |
| ROA (TTM) | 7.31% | 14.25% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 10.23% | 54.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 0.00% | 65.83% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 37.10% | 63.03% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Frontline (FRO) at -4.16% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Ecopetrol (EC) at -10.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Ecopetrol (EC) at -39.54% and Frontline (FRO) at -23.77% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -10.23% | -4.16% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -9.15% | 11.17% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -39.54% | -23.77% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -35.34% | -8.37% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Ecopetrol (EC) at 1.51 and Frontline (FRO) at 1.87 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
EC
Energy industry group
1.51
- Max
- 3.64
- Q3
- 2.21
- EC
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.24
FRO
Energy industry group
1.87
- Max
- 3.64
- Q3
- 2.21
- FRO
- 1.87
- Median
- 1.41
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.24
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Frontline (FRO) at 0.77 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 0.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.
EC
Energy industry group
0.96
- Max
- 1.75
- EC
- 0.96
- Q3
- 0.93
- Median
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
FRO
Energy industry group
0.77
- Max
- 1.75
- Q3
- 0.93
- FRO
- 0.77
- Median
- 0.54
- Q1
- 0.30
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.51 | 1.87 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.96 | 0.77 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | 1.28 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Ecopetrol (EC) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Frontline (FRO) reports a yield of 12.04%, ranking against industry peers normally.
EC
Energy industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 8.57%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 1.71%
- EC
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
FRO
Energy industry group
12.04%
- FRO
- 12.04%
- Max
- 8.57%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 1.71%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Ecopetrol (EC) at 36.09% and Frontline (FRO) at 46.93% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
EC
Energy industry group
36.09%
- Max
- 133.24%
- Q3
- 53.31%
- EC
- 36.09%
- Median
- 25.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
FRO
Energy industry group
46.93%
- Max
- 133.24%
- Q3
- 53.31%
- FRO
- 46.93%
- Median
- 25.24%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 12.04% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 36.09% | 46.93% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Frontline (FRO) at 6.81 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Ecopetrol (EC) at 8.45 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for FRO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
EC
Energy industry group
8.45
- Max
- 39.54
- Q3
- 21.72
- Median
- 12.19
- EC
- 8.45
- Q1
- 7.71
- Min
- 2.99
FRO
Energy industry group
6.81
- Max
- 39.54
- Q3
- 21.72
- Median
- 12.19
- Q1
- 7.71
- FRO
- 6.81
- Min
- 2.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)
A sales-based read is only available for Frontline (FRO), whose P/S ratio of 3.72 ranks against industry peers; Ecopetrol (EC) reports no figure this period.
EC
Energy industry group
--
- Max
- 5.40
- Q3
- 2.85
- Median
- 1.69
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.00
- EC
- --
FRO
Energy industry group
3.72
- Max
- 5.40
- FRO
- 3.72
- Q3
- 2.85
- Median
- 1.69
- Q1
- 0.88
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Ecopetrol (EC) at 0.01 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Frontline (FRO) at 3.20 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
EC
Energy industry group
0.01
- Max
- 4.21
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.08
- EC
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.01
FRO
Energy industry group
3.20
- Max
- 4.21
- FRO
- 3.20
- Q3
- 2.38
- Median
- 1.51
- Q1
- 1.08
- Min
- 0.01
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | EC | FRO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 8.45 | 6.81 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | -- | 3.72 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.01 | 3.20 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 38,006.99% | 2.81% |