Oil & Gas Midstream
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KNTK vs WES
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Oil & Gas Midstream
KNTK vs WES — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Midstream | Oil & Gas Midstream |
| Market Cap | $3.32B | $16.83B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.76B | $4.05B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $252M | $1.21B |
| Gross Margin | 31.6% | 68.8% |
| Operating Margin | 9.3% | 40.6% |
| Forward P/E | 42.2x | 12.9x |
| Total Debt | $3.87B | $8.93B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $4M | $819M |
KNTK vs WES — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinetik Holdings In… (KNTK) | 100 | 698.8 | +598.8% |
| Western Midstream P… (WES) | 100 | 441.6 | +341.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KNTK vs WES
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
KNTK is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 19.0%, EPS growth 157.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 13.3%
- 19.0% revenue growth vs WES's 6.6%
- 16.5% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs WES's 8.6%
WES carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 4 yrs, beta 0.28, yield 8.6%
- 60.3% 10Y total return vs KNTK's -33.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.28, current ratio 1.34x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 19.0% revenue growth vs WES's 6.6% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (12.9x vs 42.2x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 29.9% margin vs KNTK's 14.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.28 vs KNTK's 0.60 | |
| Dividends | 16.5% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs WES's 8.6% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +26.9% vs WES's +26.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 8.9% ROA vs KNTK's 3.5%, ROIC 10.5% vs 1.9% |
KNTK vs WES — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
KNTK vs WES — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WES leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WES is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.0B annually — 2.3x KNTK's $1.8B. WES is the more profitable business, keeping 29.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KNTK's 14.3%. On growth, WES holds the edge at +22.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $4.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $548M | $2.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $252M | $1.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $351M | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +31.6% | +68.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.3% | +40.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.3% | +29.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.9% | +33.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.6% | +22.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +10.1% |
Valuation Metrics
WES leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.8x trailing earnings, WES trades at a 25% valuation discount to KNTK's 18.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, WES's 10.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KNTK's 13.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $16.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.2B | $24.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.33x | 13.75x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 42.23x | 12.93x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.67x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.11x | 10.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.88x | 4.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.03x | 3.99x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 44.56x | 11.49x |
Profitability & Efficiency
WES leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
WES delivers a 33.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $9 for KNTK. KNTK carries lower financial leverage with a 1.32x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to WES's 2.14x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WES scores 5/9 vs KNTK's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +33.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.5% | +8.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +1.9% | +10.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.5% | +12.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.32x | 2.14x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.9B | $8.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4M | $819M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.9B | $8.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.51x | 6.44x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
WES leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WES five years ago would be worth $26,323 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,841 for KNTK. Over the past 12 months, KNTK leads with a +26.9% total return vs WES's +26.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WES at 26.0% vs KNTK's 24.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +36.7% | +8.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +26.9% | +26.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.1% | +99.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +98.4% | +163.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -33.8% | +60.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.5% | +26.0% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — KNTK and WES each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WES is the less volatile stock with a 0.28 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KNTK's 0.60 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 0.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $51.11 | $44.74 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $31.33 | $35.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.3% | +92.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.1 | 60.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 1.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — KNTK and WES each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KNTK as "Buy" and WES as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply -0.6% upside for WES (target: $41) vs -1.3% for KNTK (target: $48). For income investors, KNTK offers the higher dividend yield at 16.55% vs WES's 8.62%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $47.57 | $41.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 15 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +16.5% | +8.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $7.98 | $3.56 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +5.3% | 0.0% |
WES leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
KNTK vs WES: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KNTK or WES a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Kinetik Holdings Inc.
(KNTK) is the stronger pick with 19. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 6% for Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES). Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) offers the better valuation at 13. 8x trailing P/E (12. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kinetik Holdings Inc. (KNTK) a "Buy" — based on 15 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 — KNTK or WES?
On trailing P/E, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the cheapest at 13.
8x versus Kinetik Holdings Inc. at 18. 3x. On forward P/E, Western Midstream Partners, LP is actually cheaper at 12. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — KNTK or WES?
Over the past 5 years, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) delivered a total return of +163.
2%, compared to +98. 4% for Kinetik Holdings Inc. (KNTK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WES returned +60. 3% versus KNTK's -33. 8%. 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 — KNTK or WES?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
28β versus Kinetik Holdings Inc. 's 0. 60β — meaning KNTK is approximately 116% more volatile than WES relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kinetik Holdings Inc. (KNTK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 132% versus 2% for Western Midstream Partners, LP — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — KNTK or WES?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kinetik Holdings Inc.
(KNTK) is pulling ahead at 19. 0% versus 6. 6% for Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kinetik Holdings Inc. grew EPS 157. 8% year-over-year, compared to -25. 4% for Western Midstream Partners, LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, KNTK leads at 13. 3% 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 — KNTK or WES?
Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the more profitable company, earning 30.
4% net margin versus 10. 1% for Kinetik Holdings Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WES leads at 41. 3% versus 9. 3% for KNTK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WES leads at 68. 5%, 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 KNTK or WES more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) trades at 12.
9x forward P/E versus 42. 2x for Kinetik Holdings Inc. — 29. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WES: -0. 6% to $41. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — KNTK or WES?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Kinetik Holdings Inc. (KNTK) offers the highest yield at 16. 5%, versus 8. 6% for Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES).
09Is KNTK or WES better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
28), 8. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WES: +60. 3%, KNTK: -33. 8%), 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 KNTK and WES?
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: KNTK is a small-cap high-growth stock; WES is a mid-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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