Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Comstock Resources, Inc. (CRK) vs California Resources Corporation (CRC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CRC | 5.1% revenue growth vs CRK's -19.9% |
| Value | CRK | Lower P/E (22.0x vs 45.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | CRK | 17.8% net margin vs CRC's 10.9% |
| Stability / Safety | CRK | Beta 1.04 vs CRC's 1.26 |
| Dividends | CRC | 2.4% yield; 3-year raise streak; CRK pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRC | +35.4% vs CRK's +9.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CRC | 5.7% ROA vs CRK's 5.6%, ROIC 14.5% vs -2.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Comstock Resources is an independent energy company focused on natural gas exploration and production in the Haynesville Shale region of North Louisiana and East Texas. It generates revenue primarily from natural gas sales — which account for over 90% of production — with the remainder from oil and natural gas liquids. The company's competitive advantage lies in its low-cost position within the prolific Haynesville Shale, one of North America's most productive natural gas basins.
California Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused exclusively on California. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (~60%), natural gas and natural gas liquids (~25%), and electricity generation from its cogeneration facilities (~15%). The company's key advantage is its extensive mineral acreage position—approximately 1.9 million net acres—in a mature, high-barrier-to-entry California market with established infrastructure.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CRK leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CRC leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CRC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.5B annually — 1.6x CRK's $2.2B. CRK is the more profitable business, keeping 17.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CRC's 10.9%. On growth, CRK holds the edge at +115.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CRKComstock Resource… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.2B | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $396M | $384M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$84M | $545M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +92.5% | +37.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +29.1% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.8% | +10.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.8% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +115.5% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.1% | -79.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, CRK's 14.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4761.3x.
| Metric | CRKComstock Resource… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.7B | $5.36T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8.8B | $5.36T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -25.80x | 12.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.97x | 45.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.96x | 4761.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.57x | 1812.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.41x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 9999.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CRK delivers a 13.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $11 for CRC. CRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CRK's 1.30x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CRC scores 3/9 vs CRK's 2/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | CRKComstock Resource… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +13.4% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.6% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.4% | +14.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -3.0% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.30x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.0B | $851M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $7M | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.0B | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.87x | 5.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CRK five years ago would be worth $33,951 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,361 for CRC. Over the past 12 months, CRC leads with a +35.4% total return vs CRK's +9.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CRK at 18.3% vs CRC's 14.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CRKComstock Resource… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -16.8% | +26.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +9.1% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.7% | +49.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +239.5% | +143.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +399.6% | +1037.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.3% | +14.3% |
Risk & Volatility
CRK is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRC's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRC currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs CRK's 62.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CRKComstock Resource… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $31.17 | $60.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.65 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +62.9% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.0 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.3M | 696K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CRK as "Hold" and CRC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 11.7% upside for CRC (target: $66) vs -5.7% for CRK (target: $19). CRC is the only dividend payer here at 2.36% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CRKComstock Resource… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.50 | $65.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comstock Resources,… (CRK) | 100 | 372.76 | +272.8% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 843.06 | +743.1% |
Comstock Resources,… (CRK) returned +240% over 5 years vs California Resource… (CRC)'s +144%. A $10,000 investment in CRK 5 years ago would be worth $33,951 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comstock Resources,… (CRK) | $252M | $1.3B | +396.6% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | $2.4B | $3.0B | +25.8% |
Comstock Resources, Inc.'s revenue grew from $252M (2015) to $1.3B (2024) — a 19.5% CAGR. California Resources Corporation's revenue grew from $2.4B (2015) to $3.0B (2024) — a 2.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comstock Resources,… (CRK) | -4.1% | -17.5% | -320.7% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -151.2% | 12.7% | +108.4% |
Comstock Resources, Inc.'s net margin went from -4% (2015) to -17% (2024). California Resources Corporation's net margin went from -151% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comstock Resources,… (CRK) | 15.8 | 11.6 | -26.6% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 2.5 | 11.2 | +348.0% |
Comstock Resources, Inc. has traded in a 3x–16x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-26x. California Resources Corporation has traded in a 1x–11x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comstock Resources,… (CRK) | -113.53 | -0.76 | +99.3% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -92.79 | 4.62 | +105.0% |
Comstock Resources, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-113.53 (2015) to $-0.76 (2024). California Resources Corporation's EPS grew from $-92.79 (2015) to $4.62 (2024).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Comstock Resources, Inc. generated $-477M FCF in 2024 (-381% vs 2021). California Resources Corporation generated $350M FCF in 2024 (-25% vs 2021).
CRK vs CRC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CRK or CRC a better buy right now?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the better valuation at 12.7x trailing P/E (45.3x 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.
02Which has the better valuation — CRK or CRC?
On forward P/E, Comstock Resources, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CRK or CRC?
Over the past 5 years, Comstock Resources, Inc. (CRK) delivered a total return of +239.5%, compared to +143.6% for California Resources Corporation (CRC). A $10,000 investment in CRK five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +1037% versus CRK's +399.6%. 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 — CRK or CRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Comstock Resources, Inc. (CRK) is the lower-risk stock at 1.04β versus California Resources Corporation's 1.26β — meaning CRC is approximately 22% more volatile than CRK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, California Resources Corporation (CRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 130% for Comstock Resources, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CRK or CRC?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus -17.5% for Comstock Resources, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRC leads at 22.0% versus -13.5% for CRK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CRC leads at 40.6%, 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.
06Is CRK or CRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Comstock Resources, Inc. (CRK) trades at 22.0x forward P/E versus 45.3x for California Resources Corporation — 23.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CRC: 11.7% to $65.71.
07Which pays a better dividend — CRK or CRC?
In this comparison, CRC (2.4% yield) pays a dividend. CRK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CRK or CRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.26), 2.4% yield, +1037% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRC: +1037%, CRK: +399.6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between CRK and CRC?
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: CRK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CRC is a mega-cap deep-value stock. CRC pays a dividend while CRK 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.
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