Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) vs California Resources Corporation (CRC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VTLE | 26.2% revenue growth vs CRC's 5.1% |
| Value | VTLE | Lower P/E (4.0x vs 45.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CRC | 10.9% net margin vs VTLE's -69.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CRC | Beta 1.26 vs VTLE's 2.02, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CRC | 2.4% yield; 3-year raise streak; VTLE pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRC | +35.4% vs VTLE's -32.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CRC | 5.7% ROA vs VTLE's -27.9%, ROIC 14.5% vs -0.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Vital Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Permian Basin in West Texas. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (roughly 60% of total), with natural gas and natural gas liquids making up the remainder — all from its operated wells. The company's competitive advantage lies in its concentrated, high-quality acreage position in the Permian's prolific Delaware Basin, which provides predictable, low-cost production.
California Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused exclusively on California. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (~60%), natural gas and natural gas liquids (~25%), and electricity generation from its cogeneration facilities (~15%). The company's key advantage is its extensive mineral acreage position—approximately 1.9 million net acres—in a mature, high-barrier-to-entry California market with established infrastructure.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CRC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). VTLE leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CRC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.5B annually — 1.9x VTLE's $1.9B. CRC is the more profitable business, keeping 10.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VTLE's -69.3%. On growth, VTLE holds the edge at -8.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VTLEVital Energy, Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.9B | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$334M | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$1.3B | $384M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $656M | $545M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.2% | +37.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -58.3% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -69.3% | +10.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.6% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.4% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -2.6% | -79.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, VTLE's 4.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4761.3x.
| Metric | VTLEVital Energy, Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $693M | $5.36T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.2B | $5.36T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.78x | 12.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.98x | 45.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 4.46x | 4761.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.36x | 1812.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.24x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 9999.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CRC delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $-75 for VTLE. CRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VTLE's 0.95x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VTLE scores 4/9 vs CRC's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | VTLEVital Energy, Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -74.8% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -27.9% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.3% | +14.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.5% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.95x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.5B | $851M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $40M | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.6B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -5.04x | 5.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CRC five years ago would be worth $24,361 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,386 for VTLE. Over the past 12 months, CRC leads with a +35.4% total return vs VTLE's -32.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRC at 14.3% vs VTLE's -29.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VTLEVital Energy, Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | — | +26.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -32.9% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.1% | +49.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -46.1% | +143.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -82.5% | +1037.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -29.6% | +14.3% |
Risk & Volatility
CRC is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VTLE's 2.02 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRC currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs VTLE's 65.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VTLEVital Energy, Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.02x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $27.46 | $60.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.30 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +65.3% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.2 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 17 | 696K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VTLE as "Hold" and CRC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 47.9% upside for VTLE (target: $27) vs 11.7% for CRC (target: $66). CRC is the only dividend payer here at 2.36% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | VTLEVital Energy, Inc. | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.50 | $65.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Dec 25 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) | 100 | 92.34 | -7.7% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 754.55 | +654.5% |
California Resource… (CRC) returned +144% over 5 years vs Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE)'s -46%. A $10,000 investment in CRC 5 years ago would be worth $24,361 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) | $607M | $2.0B | +221.8% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | $2.4B | $3.0B | +25.8% |
Vital Energy, Inc.'s revenue grew from $607M (2015) to $2.0B (2024) — a 13.9% CAGR. California Resources Corporation's revenue grew from $2.4B (2015) to $3.0B (2024) — a 2.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) | -3.6% | -8.9% | -144.0% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -151.2% | 12.7% | +108.4% |
Vital Energy, Inc.'s net margin went from -4% (2015) to -9% (2024). California Resources Corporation's net margin went from -151% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) | 4.6 | 1.4 | -69.6% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 2.5 | 11.2 | +348.0% |
Vital Energy, Inc. has traded in a 1x–6x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-4x. California Resources Corporation has traded in a 1x–11x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) | -222 | -4.74 | +97.9% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -92.79 | 4.62 | +105.0% |
Vital Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-222.00 (2015) to $-4.74 (2024). California Resources Corporation's EPS grew from $-92.79 (2015) to $4.62 (2024).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Vital Energy, Inc. generated $-738M FCF in 2024 (-6% vs 2021). California Resources Corporation generated $350M FCF in 2024 (-25% vs 2021).
VTLE vs CRC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VTLE or CRC a better buy right now?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the better valuation at 12.7x trailing P/E (45.3x 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 — VTLE or CRC?
On forward P/E, Vital Energy, Inc. is actually cheaper at 4.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VTLE or CRC?
Over the past 5 years, California Resources Corporation (CRC) delivered a total return of +143.6%, compared to -46.1% for Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE). A $10,000 investment in CRC five years ago would be worth approximately $24K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +1037% versus VTLE's -82.5%. 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 — VTLE or CRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the lower-risk stock at 1.26β versus Vital Energy, Inc.'s 2.02β — meaning VTLE is approximately 60% more volatile than CRC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, California Resources Corporation (CRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 95% for Vital Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — VTLE or CRC?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus -8.9% for Vital Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRC leads at 22.0% versus -1.2% for VTLE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRC leads at 40.6%, 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.
06Is VTLE or CRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) trades at 4.0x forward P/E versus 45.3x for California Resources Corporation — 41.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for VTLE: 47.9% to $26.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — VTLE or CRC?
In this comparison, CRC (2.4% yield) pays a dividend. VTLE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is VTLE or CRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.26), 2.4% yield, +1037% 10Y return). Vital Energy, Inc. (VTLE) carries a higher beta of 2.02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRC: +1037%, VTLE: -82.5%), 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.
09What are the main differences between VTLE and CRC?
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: VTLE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CRC is a mega-cap deep-value stock. CRC pays a dividend while VTLE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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