APA vs PR

For growth investors, Permian Resources Corporation (PR) is the stronger pick with 1.

3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 4% for APA Corporation (APA). APA Corporation (APA) offers the better valuation at 9. 6x trailing P/E (7. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Permian Resources Corporation (PR) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 9.

6x versus Permian Resources Corporation at 16. 6x. On forward P/E, APA Corporation is actually cheaper at 7. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, Permian Resources Corporation (PR) delivered a total return of +408.

8%, compared to +98. 4% for APA Corporation (APA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PR returned +130. 0% versus APA's -13. 8%. 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 Permian Resources Corporation's 0. 23β — meaning PR is approximately -1245% more volatile than APA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Permian Resources Corporation (PR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 32% versus 69% for APA Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Permian Resources Corporation (PR) is pulling ahead at 1.

3% versus -8. 4% for APA Corporation (APA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: APA Corporation grew EPS 75. 0% year-over-year, compared to -11. 7% for Permian Resources Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PR leads at 33. 5% 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.

Permian Resources Corporation (PR) is the more profitable company, earning 18.

5% net margin versus 16. 1% for APA Corporation — meaning it keeps 18. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APA leads at 30. 8% versus 29. 0% for PR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APA leads at 37. 3%, 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.

0x forward P/E versus 11. 5x for Permian Resources Corporation — 4. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PR: 5. 1% to $22. 29.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Permian Resources Corporation (PR) offers the highest yield at 2. 9%, versus 2. 6% for APA Corporation (APA).

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

02), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (APA: -13. 8%, PR: +130. 0%), 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.

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.