Williams (WMB): analysis in plain words
Is Williams cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Williams (WMB) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in oil and gas. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Williams according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Williams (WMB) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $67.86 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.7x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +12.3% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 24.7% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 4.6x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 2.90% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $84.8 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Williams figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any WMB figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Williams makes money
Williams Companies moves natural gas through pipelines like Transco, which supplies the U.S. East Coast, and also processes and stores it. Its business spans transmission, gathering and processing in the Northeast and West, and gas marketing. Most revenue comes from regulated or long-term contracted fees with little exposure to gas prices.
Over the last 12 months, Williams brought in revenue of $12.7 billion. For every 100 it sells, Williams keeps 63.1 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 32.7 after all operating costs (operating margin).
Williams against its sector
To know whether a Williams figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Williams with the median of the 14 oil and gas companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Williams | oil and gas median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 26.7x | 16.1x (14) |
| Revenue growth | +12.3% | +38.3% (14) |
| Net margin | 24.7% | 10.5% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 2.90% | 2.52% (14) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 4.6x | 0.6x (13) |
In short, against the typical oil and gas company, Williams trades on a higher P/E, grows more slowly and earns a wider margin. By size, Williams ranks number 7 of 11 oil and gas companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Williams
What works in favour of Williams, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Williams keeps 24.7 of every 100 it sells as net profit, against 10.5 for the median oil and gas company: a margin like that leaves money to invest, buy back shares or pay dividends.
- Williams earns 18.3% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- For income seekers, Williams pays a dividend yielding 2.90% at today's price, using 82% of its profit to fund it.
The main risk for Williams
Debt is heavy: Williams carries net debt equal to 4.6x its annual EBITDA. With high interest rates or a weak year, interest payments eat into what it can invest or pay out.
On top of that: the price already assumes a lot: Williams trades at 26.7x its last 12 months of earnings, against 16.1x for the oil and gas median. If growth disappoints, the multiple can shrink and the share price with it.
And, like the rest of oil and gas, Williams is exposed to oil and gas prices, which it does not control and which swing its profit year to year, plus the energy transition.
Frequently asked questions about Williams
Is it a good time to buy Williams stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Williams, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Williams stock trades at $67.86, 15% below its 52-week high ($80.08) and 21% above its low ($56.26). Its P/E is 26.7x against a oil and gas median of 16.1x, and 25.9x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Williams, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Williams pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Williams pays $2.10 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 2.90%. It uses 82% of its profit to pay it.
Is Williams stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Williams trades at 26.7x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the oil and gas median (16.1x). A high P/E alone does not make Williams expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Williams's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Williams with Valero, Kinder Morgan and Eni, which are also in oil and gas. As of November 4, 2026, Valero is worth $101.9 billion and trades on a P/E of 8.3; Kinder Morgan is worth $70.2 billion and trades on a P/E of 19.5; Eni is worth €72.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 17.5. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Williams below.
Williams competitors
- Valero (VLO) analysis · Williams vs Valero comparison
- Kinder Morgan (KMI) analysis · Williams vs Kinder Morgan comparison
- Eni (ENI.MI) analysis · Williams vs Eni comparison
To understand Williams better
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
More companies like Williams: oil and gas stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full WMB analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Williams, not investment advice.