USAC vs WES

For growth investors, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the stronger pick with 6.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 0% for USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC). 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 USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC) a "Buy" — based on 19 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.

On trailing P/E, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the cheapest at 13.

8x versus USA Compression Partners, LP at 31. 8x. On forward P/E, Western Midstream Partners, LP is actually cheaper at 12. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) delivered a total return of +163.

2%, compared to +146. 5% for USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: USAC returned +235. 0% versus WES's +60. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

28β versus USA Compression Partners, LP's 0. 38β — meaning USAC is approximately 37% more volatile than WES relative to the S&P 500.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is pulling ahead at 6.

6% versus 5. 0% for USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: USA Compression Partners, LP grew EPS 18. 1% year-over-year, compared to -25. 4% for Western Midstream Partners, LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, USAC leads at 12. 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.

Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the more profitable company, earning 30.

4% net margin versus 11. 2% for USA Compression Partners, LP — 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 31. 9% for USAC. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) trades at 12.

9x forward P/E versus 19. 4x for USA Compression Partners, LP — 6. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for USAC: 1. 9% to $27. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) offers the highest yield at 8. 6%, versus 7. 8% for USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC).

For long-horizon retirement investors, USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

38), 7. 8% yield, +235. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (USAC: +235. 0%, WES: +60. 3%), 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.

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: USAC is a small-cap income-oriented 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.