NRP
Natural Resource Partners L.P.
Coal
Market Cap$1.53B
5Y Perf.+694.6%
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Stock Comparison
NRP vs ARLP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ARLP
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
Coal
Market Cap$3.30B
5Y Perf.+709.8%
NRP vs ARLP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NRP | ARLP |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Coal | Coal |
| Market Cap | $1.53B | $3.30B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $185M | $2.17B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $95M | $246M |
| Gross Margin | 69.9% | 23.9% |
| Operating Margin | 67.0% | 14.4% |
| Forward P/E | 24.4x | 11.2x |
| Total Debt | $33M | $480M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $30M | $71M |
NRP vs ARLP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NRP
ARLP
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resource Pa… (NRP) | 100 | 794.6 | +694.6% |
| Alliance Resource P… (ARLP) | 100 | 809.8 | +709.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NRP vs ARLP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NRP leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NRP
Natural Resource Partners L.P.
The Income Pick
NRP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.01, yield 3.7%
- 10.1% 10Y total return vs ARLP's 182.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.01, Low D/E 5.2%, current ratio 1.85x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
ARLP
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
The Growth Play
ARLP is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth -10.4%, EPS growth -12.6%, 3Y rev CAGR -3.2%
- Beta 0.07, yield 10.2%, current ratio 2.10x
- -10.4% revenue growth vs NRP's -17.4%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ARLP | -10.4% revenue growth vs NRP's -17.4% |
| Value | ARLP | Lower P/E (11.2x vs 24.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | NRP | 51.6% margin vs ARLP's 11.3% |
| Stability / Safety | NRP | Beta 0.01 vs ARLP's 0.07, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ARLP | 10.2% yield, vs NRP's 3.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NRP | +20.8% vs ARLP's +4.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NRP | 12.6% ROA vs ARLP's 8.6%, ROIC 16.1% vs 12.9% |
NRP vs ARLP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NRP vs ARLP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNRPLAGGINGARLP
ARLPAlliance Resource Par…
2leads
NRPNatural Resource Part…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ARLPMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NRP4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ARLP6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NRP9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NRP5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NRP2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ARLP1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NRP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARLP is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.2B annually — 11.8x NRP's $185M. NRP is the more profitable business, keeping 51.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ARLP's 11.3%. On growth, ARLP holds the edge at -4.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NRPNatural Resource … | ARLPAlliance Resource… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $185M | $2.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $142M | $626M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $95M | $246M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $164M | $339M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +69.9% | +23.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +67.0% | +14.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +51.6% | +11.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +89.1% | +15.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -29.3% | -4.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | -87.7% |
NRP leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ARLP leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 10.6x trailing earnings, ARLP trades at a 8% valuation discount to NRP's 11.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ARLP's 5.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NRP's 9.9x.
| Metric | NRPNatural Resource … | ARLPAlliance Resource… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.5B | $3.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.48x | 10.61x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 24.40x | 11.22x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.91x | 5.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.55x | 1.50x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.42x | 1.77x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 9.20x | 8.52x |
ARLP leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NRP leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NRP delivers a 15.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $14 for ARLP. NRP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.05x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ARLP's 0.26x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NRP scores 5/9 vs ARLP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NRPNatural Resource … | ARLPAlliance Resource… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.4% | +13.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.6% | +8.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +16.1% | +12.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +19.1% | +14.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.05x | 0.26x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3M | $409M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $30M | $71M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $480M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 23.35x | 7.19x |
NRP leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NRP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NRP five years ago would be worth $74,873 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $62,171 for ARLP. Over the past 12 months, NRP leads with a +20.8% total return vs ARLP's +4.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NRP at 37.1% vs ARLP's 20.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NRPNatural Resource … | ARLPAlliance Resource… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.6% | +12.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +20.8% | +4.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +157.7% | +73.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +648.7% | +521.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1007.3% | +182.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +37.1% | +20.1% |
NRP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NRP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NRP is the less volatile stock with a 0.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ARLP's 0.07 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | NRPNatural Resource … | ARLPAlliance Resource… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.01x | 0.07x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $128.60 | $29.45 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $91.79 | $22.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +89.6% | +87.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.3 | 49.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 32K | 373K |
NRP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ARLP leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NRP as "Hold" and ARLP as "Hold". For income investors, ARLP offers the higher dividend yield at 10.23% vs NRP's 3.69%.
| Metric | NRPNatural Resource … | ARLPAlliance Resource… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 10 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.7% | +10.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.25 | $2.63 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ARLP leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NRP leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ARLP leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook).
Best OverallNatural Resource Partners L… (NRP)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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NRP vs ARLP: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NRP or ARLP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) is the stronger pick with -10. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -17. 4% for Natural Resource Partners L. P. (NRP). Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP) offers the better valuation at 10. 6x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Natural Resource Partners L. P. (NRP) a "Hold" — based on 10 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 — NRP or ARLP?
On trailing P/E, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) is the cheapest at 10. 6x versus Natural Resource Partners L. P. at 11. 5x. On forward P/E, Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NRP or ARLP?
Over the past 5 years, Natural Resource Partners L.
P. (NRP) delivered a total return of +648. 7%, compared to +521. 7% for Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NRP returned +1007% versus ARLP's +182. 4%. 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 — NRP or ARLP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Natural Resource Partners L.
P. (NRP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 01β versus Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. 's 0. 07β — meaning ARLP is approximately 672% more volatile than NRP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Natural Resource Partners L. P. (NRP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 26% for Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NRP or ARLP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) is pulling ahead at -10. 4% versus -17. 4% for Natural Resource Partners L. P. (NRP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Natural Resource Partners L. P. grew EPS -11. 5% year-over-year, compared to -12. 6% for Alliance Resource Partners, L. P.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARLP leads at -3. 2% 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 — NRP or ARLP?
Natural Resource Partners L.
P. (NRP) is the more profitable company, earning 66. 0% net margin versus 14. 2% for Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. — meaning it keeps 66. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NRP leads at 68. 9% versus 17. 6% for ARLP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NRP leads at 81. 2%, 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 NRP or ARLP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 24. 4x for Natural Resource Partners L. P. — 13. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — NRP or ARLP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP) offers the highest yield at 10. 2%, versus 3. 7% for Natural Resource Partners L. P. (NRP).
09Is NRP or ARLP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Natural Resource Partners L.
P. (NRP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 3. 7% yield, +1007% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NRP: +1007%, ARLP: +182. 4%), 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 NRP and ARLP?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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>
%
(NRP: -29.3% · ARLP: -4.5%)Net Margin>
%
(NRP: 51.6% · ARLP: 11.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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