CRC vs CIVI vs MTDR vs SM

For growth investors, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the stronger pick with 49. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 1% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) offers the better valuation at 3. 2x trailing P/E (6. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate California Resources Corporation (CRC) a "Buy" — based on 23 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, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the cheapest at 3. 2x versus California Resources Corporation at 14. 7x. On forward P/E, SM Energy Company is actually cheaper at 4. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, California Resources Corporation (CRC) delivered a total return of +167.

2%, compared to +31. 9% for Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +308. 6% versus CIVI's -86. 2%. 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), Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

06β versus Civitas Resources, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning CIVI is approximately 1666% more volatile than MTDR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, California Resources Corporation (CRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 37% versus 68% for Civitas Resources, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is pulling ahead at 49. 8% versus 5. 1% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Civitas Resources, Inc. grew EPS -6. 2% year-over-year, compared to -15. 4% for SM Energy Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, CIVI leads at 77. 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.

Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the more profitable company, earning 20.

8% net margin versus 10. 1% for California Resources Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MTDR leads at 32. 5% versus 23. 6% for CRC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MTDR leads at 43. 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.

On forward earnings alone, SM Energy Company (SM) trades at 4.

4x forward P/E versus 12. 1x for California Resources Corporation — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTDR: 22. 9% to $68. 29.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) offers the highest yield at 18. 2%, versus 2. 4% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR).

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

06), 2. 4% yield, +201. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTDR: +201. 8%, CIVI: -86. 2%), 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: CRC is a small-cap high-growth stock; CIVI is a small-cap high-growth stock; MTDR is a small-cap deep-value stock; SM is a small-cap high-growth 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.