BRY vs REI

For growth investors, Berry Corporation (BRY) is the stronger pick with -9.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 1% for Ring Energy, Inc. (REI). Berry Corporation (BRY) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ring Energy, Inc. (REI) a "Buy" — based on 10 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.

Over the past 5 years, Berry Corporation (BRY) delivered a total return of +3.

7%, compared to -25. 4% for Ring Energy, Inc. (REI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BRY returned +7279% versus REI's -74. 4%. 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), Ring Energy, Inc.

(REI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 37β versus Berry Corporation's 0. 78β — meaning BRY is approximately 112% more volatile than REI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ring Energy, Inc. (REI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 51% versus 60% for Berry Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Berry Corporation (BRY) is pulling ahead at -9.

2% versus -16. 1% for Ring Energy, Inc. (REI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Berry Corporation grew EPS -47. 9% year-over-year, compared to -150. 0% for Ring Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BRY leads at 3. 8% 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.

Berry Corporation (BRY) is the more profitable company, earning 2.

5% net margin versus -11. 3% for Ring Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: REI leads at 24. 2% versus 19. 5% for BRY. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — REI leads at 60. 7%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BRY: 114.

7% to $7. 00.

In this comparison, BRY (19.

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

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

78), 19. 5% yield, +7279% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BRY: +7279%, REI: -74. 4%), 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: BRY is a small-cap deep-value stock; REI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. BRY pays a dividend while REI 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.