APA vs CTRA

For growth investors, APA Corporation (APA) is the stronger pick with -8.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). APA Corporation (APA) offers the better valuation at 10. 4x trailing P/E (7. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) a "Buy" — based on 55 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, APA Corporation (APA) is the cheapest at 10.

4x versus Coterra Energy Inc. at 15. 8x. On forward P/E, APA Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) delivered a total return of +141. 8%, compared to +117. 9% for APA Corporation (APA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTRA returned +80. 2% versus APA's -9. 6%. 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), APA Corporation (APA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

02β versus Coterra Energy Inc. 's 0. 03β — meaning CTRA is approximately -246% more volatile than APA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 27% versus 36% for APA Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), APA Corporation (APA) is pulling ahead at -8.

4% versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: APA Corporation grew EPS 75. 0% year-over-year, compared to 49. 0% for Coterra Energy Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, APA leads at -7. 0% 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.

Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 4% net margin versus 16. 1% for APA Corporation — meaning it keeps 62. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRA leads at 89. 1% versus 30. 8% for APA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRA leads at 60. 4%, 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, APA Corporation (APA) trades at 7.

5x forward P/E versus 12. 6x for Coterra Energy Inc. — 5. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTRA: -4. 6% to $34. 00.

In this comparison, CTRA (2.

5% yield) pays a dividend. APA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 03), 2. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTRA: +80. 2%, APA: -9. 6%), 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.

CTRA pays a dividend while APA 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.