ARLP
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
Coal
Market Cap$3.29B
5Y Perf.+706.0%
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Stock Comparison
ARLP vs SXC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SXC
SunCoke Energy, Inc.
Coal
Market Cap$621M
5Y Perf.+114.7%
ARLP vs SXC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ARLP | SXC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Coal | Coal |
| Market Cap | $3.29B | $621M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.17B | $1.86B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $246M | $-66M |
| Gross Margin | 23.9% | 6.5% |
| Operating Margin | 14.4% | 2.1% |
| Forward P/E | 11.2x | 20.1x |
| Total Debt | $480M | $686M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $71M | $89M |
ARLP vs SXC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ARLP
SXC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Resource P… (ARLP) | 100 | 806.0 | +706.0% |
| SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC) | 100 | 214.7 | +114.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ARLP vs SXC
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ARLP leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. SunCoke Energy, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ARLP
Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
The Income Pick
ARLP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.07, yield 10.3%
- 195.5% 10Y total return vs SXC's 68.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.07, Low D/E 25.8%, current ratio 2.10x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
SXC
SunCoke Energy, Inc.
The Growth Play
SXC is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth -5.1%, EPS growth -146.4%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.3%
- -5.1% revenue growth vs ARLP's -10.4%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SXC | -5.1% revenue growth vs ARLP's -10.4% |
| Value | ARLP | Lower P/E (11.2x vs 20.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | ARLP | 11.3% margin vs SXC's -3.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ARLP | Beta 0.07 vs SXC's 0.91, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ARLP | 10.3% yield, vs SXC's 6.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ARLP | +3.9% vs SXC's -10.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ARLP | 8.6% ROA vs SXC's -3.7%, ROIC 12.9% vs 4.3% |
ARLP vs SXC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ARLP vs SXC — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLARLPLAGGINGSXC
SXCSunCoke Energy, Inc.
0leads
ARLPAlliance Resource Par…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SXCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ARLP5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ARLP9/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ARLP6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ARLP2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARLP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ARLP and SXC operate at a comparable scale, with $2.2B and $1.9B in trailing revenue. ARLP is the more profitable business, keeping 11.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SXC's -3.5%. On growth, SXC holds the edge at +4.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ARLPAlliance Resource… | SXCSunCoke Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.2B | $1.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $626M | $208M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $246M | -$66M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $339M | $77M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +23.9% | +6.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +2.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.3% | -3.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.6% | +4.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.5% | +4.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -87.7% | -125.7% |
ARLP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ARLP and SXC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ARLP's 5.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SXC's 5.5x.
| Metric | ARLPAlliance Resource… | SXCSunCoke Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.3B | $621M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.7B | $1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.56x | -14.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.17x | 20.05x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.40x | 5.54x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.50x | 0.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.76x | 1.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.48x | 14.68x |
Evenly matched — ARLP and SXC each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ARLP leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ARLP delivers a 13.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $-10 for SXC. ARLP carries lower financial leverage with a 0.26x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SXC's 1.09x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ARLP scores 4/9 vs SXC's 2/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | ARLPAlliance Resource… | SXCSunCoke Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.5% | -9.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.6% | -3.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.9% | +4.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +14.5% | +4.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.26x | 1.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $409M | $597M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $71M | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $480M | $686M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.19x | 1.18x |
ARLP leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ARLP leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ARLP five years ago would be worth $61,901 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,984 for SXC. Over the past 12 months, ARLP leads with a +3.9% total return vs SXC's -10.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ARLP at 19.9% vs SXC's 3.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ARLPAlliance Resource… | SXCSunCoke Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.3% | +1.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.9% | -10.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +72.4% | +10.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +519.0% | +19.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +195.5% | +68.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.9% | +3.5% |
ARLP leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ARLP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ARLP is the less volatile stock with a 0.07 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SXC's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ARLP currently trades 86.8% from its 52-week high vs SXC's 80.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ARLPAlliance Resource… | SXCSunCoke Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.07x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $29.45 | $9.07 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.20 | $5.52 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.8% | +80.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.2 | 69.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 380K | 1.8M |
ARLP leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — ARLP and SXC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ARLP as "Hold" and SXC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.0% upside for SXC (target: $9) vs 17.4% for ARLP (target: $30). For income investors, ARLP offers the higher dividend yield at 10.28% vs SXC's 6.61%.
| Metric | ARLPAlliance Resource… | SXCSunCoke Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.00 | $9.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 17 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +10.3% | +6.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 6 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.63 | $0.48 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — ARLP and SXC each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ARLP leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallAlliance Resource Partners,… (ARLP)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ARLP vs SXC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ARLP or SXC a better buy right now?
For growth investors, SunCoke Energy, Inc.
(SXC) is the stronger pick with -5. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 4% for Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP). Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP) offers the better valuation at 10. 6x trailing P/E (11. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC) a "Buy" — based on 17 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 — ARLP or SXC?
On forward P/E, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. is actually cheaper at 11. 2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ARLP or SXC?
Over the past 5 years, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) delivered a total return of +519. 0%, compared to +19. 8% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ARLP returned +195. 5% versus SXC's +68. 0%. 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 — ARLP or SXC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 07β versus SunCoke Energy, Inc. 's 0. 91β — meaning SXC is approximately 1178% more volatile than ARLP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 26% versus 109% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ARLP or SXC?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), SunCoke Energy, Inc.
(SXC) is pulling ahead at -5. 1% versus -10. 4% for Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. grew EPS -12. 6% year-over-year, compared to -146. 4% for SunCoke Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SXC leads at -2. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ARLP or SXC?
Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) is the more profitable company, earning 14. 2% net margin versus -2. 4% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 14. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ARLP leads at 17. 6% versus 3. 5% for SXC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARLP leads at 21. 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.
07Is ARLP or SXC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) trades at 11. 2x forward P/E versus 20. 1x for SunCoke Energy, Inc. — 8. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SXC: 23. 0% to $9. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ARLP or SXC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Alliance Resource Partners, L. P. (ARLP) offers the highest yield at 10. 3%, versus 6. 6% for SunCoke Energy, Inc. (SXC).
09Is ARLP or SXC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alliance Resource Partners, L.
P. (ARLP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 07), 10. 3% yield, +195. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ARLP: +195. 5%, SXC: +68. 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.
10What are the main differences between ARLP and SXC?
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: ARLP is a small-cap deep-value stock; SXC is a small-cap income-oriented 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.
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