CRC
California Resources Corporation
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$5.45B
5Y Perf.+4521.1%
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Stock Comparison
CRC vs MTDR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MTDR
Matador Resources Company
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Market Cap$7.18B
5Y Perf.+636.7%
CRC vs MTDR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CRC | MTDR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $5.45B | $7.18B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.48B | $3.36B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $363M | $483M |
| Gross Margin | 37.4% | 102.0% |
| Operating Margin | 20.8% | 26.3% |
| Forward P/E | 12.1x | 8.0x |
| Total Debt | $1.36B | $3.55B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $132M | $79M |
CRC vs MTDR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CRC
MTDR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 4621.1 | +4521.1% |
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | 100 | 736.7 | +636.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CRC vs MTDR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CRC leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. Matador Resources Company is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CRC
California Resources Corporation
The Growth Play
CRC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 21.9%, EPS growth -10.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 3.4%
- 287.0% 10Y total return vs MTDR's 205.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.45, Low D/E 37.0%, current ratio 0.89x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
MTDR
Matador Resources Company
The Income Pick
MTDR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.06, yield 2.3%
- Lower P/E (8.0x vs 12.1x)
- 14.4% margin vs CRC's 10.4%
Best for: income & stability
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CRC | 21.9% revenue growth vs MTDR's 5.1% |
| Value | MTDR | Lower P/E (8.0x vs 12.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | MTDR | 14.4% margin vs CRC's 10.4% |
| Stability / Safety | MTDR | Beta 0.06 vs CRC's 0.45 |
| Dividends | CRC | 2.5% yield, 4-year raise streak, vs MTDR's 2.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRC | +77.5% vs MTDR's +46.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CRC | 5.2% ROA vs MTDR's 4.1%, ROIC 13.8% vs 10.5% |
CRC vs MTDR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CRC vs MTDR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCRCLAGGINGMTDR
MTDRMatador Resources Com…
2leads
CRCCalifornia Resources …
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs MTDRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MTDR4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
CRC8/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CRC5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
MTDR2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — CRC and MTDR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CRC and MTDR operate at a comparable scale, with $3.5B and $3.4B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.4% (MTDR) to 10.4% (CRC). On growth, CRC holds the edge at -5.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CRCCalifornia Resour… | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.5B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $2.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $363M | $483M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $543M | $518M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +102.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.8% | +26.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | +14.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.6% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.9% | -33.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -61.1% | -115.1% |
Evenly matched — CRC and MTDR each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MTDR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.5x trailing earnings, MTDR trades at a 36% valuation discount to CRC's 14.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MTDR's 4.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4.5x.
| Metric | CRCCalifornia Resour… | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.5B | $7.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.7B | $10.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 14.81x | 9.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.12x | 8.03x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.52x | 4.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.51x | 1.96x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.46x | 1.20x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.04x | 29.70x |
MTDR leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CRC leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CRC delivers a 10.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $8 for MTDR. CRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.37x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MTDR's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CRC scores 4/9 vs MTDR's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | CRCCalifornia Resour… | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.3% | +8.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.2% | +4.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +13.8% | +10.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +13.6% | +11.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.37x | 0.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $132M | $79M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.4B | $3.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 6.75x | 7.88x |
CRC leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CRC five years ago would be worth $27,895 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,847 for MTDR. Over the past 12 months, CRC leads with a +77.5% total return vs MTDR's +46.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRC at 18.3% vs MTDR's 10.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CRCCalifornia Resour… | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +33.4% | +34.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +77.5% | +46.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.5% | +34.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +178.9% | +118.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +287.0% | +205.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.3% | +10.5% |
CRC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MTDR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MTDR is the less volatile stock with a 0.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRC's 0.45 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CRCCalifornia Resour… | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.45x | 0.06x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $71.98 | $66.84 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.04 | $37.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.4% | +86.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.4 | 58.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 972K | 1.8M |
MTDR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — CRC and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CRC as "Buy" and MTDR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 18.2% upside for MTDR (target: $68) vs 11.2% for CRC (target: $68). For income investors, CRC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.53% vs MTDR's 2.27%.
| Metric | CRCCalifornia Resour… | MTDRMatador Resources… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $68.33 | $68.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.5% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.56 | $1.31 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.9% | +0.8% |
Evenly matched — CRC and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
MTDR leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). CRC leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallCalifornia Resources Corpor… (CRC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
CRC vs MTDR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CRC or MTDR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger pick with 21.
9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). Matador Resources Company (MTDR) offers the better valuation at 9. 5x trailing P/E (8. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate California Resources Corporation (CRC) a "Buy" — based on 23 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CRC or MTDR?
On trailing P/E, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the cheapest at 9.
5x versus California Resources Corporation at 14. 8x. On forward P/E, Matador Resources Company is actually cheaper at 8. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CRC or MTDR?
Over the past 5 years, California Resources Corporation (CRC) delivered a total return of +178.
9%, compared to +118. 5% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +287. 0% versus MTDR's +205. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CRC or MTDR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
06β versus California Resources Corporation's 0. 45β — meaning CRC is approximately 620% more volatile than MTDR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, California Resources Corporation (CRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 59% for Matador Resources Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CRC or MTDR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), California Resources Corporation (CRC) is pulling ahead at 21.
9% versus 5. 1% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: California Resources Corporation grew EPS -10. 2% year-over-year, compared to -14. 7% for Matador Resources Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTDR leads at 6. 1% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CRC or MTDR?
Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the more profitable company, earning 20.
8% net margin versus 10. 1% for California Resources Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTDR leads at 32. 5% versus 23. 6% for CRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTDR leads at 43. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CRC or MTDR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) trades at 8.
0x forward P/E versus 12. 1x for California Resources Corporation — 4. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTDR: 18. 2% to $68. 29.
08Which pays a better dividend — CRC or MTDR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 2. 3% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR).
09Is CRC or MTDR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
06), 2. 3% yield, +205. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTDR: +205. 6%, CRC: +287. 0%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CRC and MTDR?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CRC is a small-cap high-growth stock; MTDR is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CRC: -5.9% · MTDR: -33.2%)Net Margin>
%
(CRC: 10.4% · MTDR: 14.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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