Petrobras (PBR) vs Vale (VALE): Which is a Better Stock to Buy?

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) traded at around $24 on October 6, up 96.58% over twelve months and close to its 52-week high of $24.76. Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE) traded near $14 over the same session, up 28.17% across the year. Both sell commodities out of Brazil, and the similarity ends at the income statement. READ ALSO: Costco (COST) vs Walmart (WMT): Which is a Better Stock to Buy?Petrobras (PBR) vs Vale (VALE): Which is a Better Stock to Buy? One Is Earning Through the Cycle and One Is Not: The operating numbers separate these two more sharply than the share prices do. Petrobras runs a 44.68% operating margin against 21.95% at Vale. At the net line, the gap widens rather than closes, at 24.32% against 4.75%.