Compare Antero Resources Corporation (AR) vs CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) Stock

CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) offers the better valuation at 10.5x trailing P/E (16.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Antero Resources Corporation (AR) a "Buy" — based on 50 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, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the cheapest at 10.5x versus Antero Resources Corporation at 18.1x. On forward P/E, Antero Resources Corporation is actually cheaper at 11.3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Antero Resources Corporation (AR) delivered a total return of +275.6%, compared to +217.2% for CNX Resources Corporation (CNX). A $10,000 investment in AR five years ago would be worth approximately $38K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CNX returned +384.1% versus AR's +63.5%. 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), CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.41β versus Antero Resources Corporation's 1.02β — meaning AR is approximately 146% more volatile than CNX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Antero Resources Corporation (AR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 46% versus 57% for CNX Resources Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the more profitable company, earning 29.6% net margin versus 12.0% for Antero Resources Corporation — meaning it keeps 29.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CNX leads at 37.1% versus 16.7% for AR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AR leads at 94.3%, 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, Antero Resources Corporation (AR) trades at 11.3x forward P/E versus 16.0x for CNX Resources Corporation — 4.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AR: 20.2% to $44.25.

In this comparison, AR (1.1% yield) pays a dividend. CNX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, CNX Resources Corporation (CNX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.41), +384.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CNX: +384.1%, AR: +63.5%), 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.

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: AR is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CNX is a small-cap deep-value stock. AR pays a dividend while CNX 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.