CVI vs DKL vs DK vs MPLX vs PBF

For growth investors, MPLX Lp (MPLX) is the stronger pick with 8.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 4% for PBF Energy Inc. (PBF). MPLX Lp (MPLX) offers the better valuation at 11. 7x trailing P/E (12. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MPLX Lp (MPLX) a "Buy" — based on 28 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, MPLX Lp (MPLX) is the cheapest at 11.

7x versus CVR Energy, Inc. at 120. 7x. On forward P/E, PBF Energy Inc. is actually cheaper at 7. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, PBF Energy Inc.

(PBF) delivered a total return of +164. 8%, compared to +86. 0% for Delek Logistics Partners, LP (DKL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: DK returned +265. 7% versus PBF's +70. 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), CVR Energy, Inc.

(CVI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 11β versus Delek Logistics Partners, LP's 0. 35β — meaning DKL is approximately 216% more volatile than CVI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PBF Energy Inc. (PBF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 53% versus 6% for Delek US Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), MPLX Lp (MPLX) is pulling ahead at 8.

4% versus -11. 4% for PBF Energy Inc. (PBF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CVR Energy, Inc. grew EPS 287. 4% year-over-year, compared to 10. 4% for Delek Logistics Partners, LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, MPLX leads at 3. 9% 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.

MPLX Lp (MPLX) is the more profitable company, earning 41.

6% net margin versus -0. 5% for PBF Energy Inc. — meaning it keeps 41. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MPLX leads at 40. 3% versus -0. 2% for PBF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MPLX leads at 45. 2%, 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, PBF Energy Inc.

(PBF) trades at 7. 4x forward P/E versus 35. 3x for CVR Energy, Inc. — 27. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DKL: 9. 8% to $56. 00.

In this comparison, DKL (8.

7% yield), MPLX (7. 0% yield), PBF (2. 7% yield), DK (2. 3% yield) pay a dividend. CVI does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

18), 7. 0% yield, +184. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MPLX: +184. 4%, CVI: +253. 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: CVI is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DKL is a small-cap deep-value stock; DK is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MPLX is a mid-cap deep-value stock; PBF is a small-cap quality compounder stock. DKL, DK, MPLX, PBF pay a dividend while CVI 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.