DEC vs AR

For growth investors, Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the stronger pick with 102.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 21. 7% for Antero Resources Corporation (AR). Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) offers the better valuation at 3. 5x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the cheapest at 3.

5x versus Antero Resources Corporation at 18. 3x. On forward P/E, Antero Resources Corporation is actually cheaper at 8. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Antero Resources Corporation (AR) delivered a total return of +213.

2%, compared to -19. 2% for Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AR returned +43. 7% versus DEC's +13. 3%. 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), Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

12β versus Antero Resources Corporation's 0. 14β — meaning AR is approximately -213% more volatile than DEC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 67% for Antero Resources Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is pulling ahead at 102.

7% versus 21. 7% for Antero Resources Corporation (AR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Antero Resources Corporation grew EPS 1028% year-over-year, compared to 346. 2% for Diversified Energy Company PLC. Over a 3-year CAGR, DEC leads at -5. 7% 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.

Diversified Energy Company PLC (DEC) is the more profitable company, earning 21.

2% net margin versus 12. 7% for Antero Resources Corporation — meaning it keeps 21. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AR leads at 16. 5% versus 15. 1% for DEC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DEC leads at 25. 5%, 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, Antero Resources Corporation (AR) trades at 8.

4x forward P/E versus 8. 6x for Diversified Energy Company PLC — 0. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DEC: 38. 4% to $22. 33.

In this comparison, DEC (7.

1% yield) pays a dividend. AR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

12), 7. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DEC: +13. 3%, AR: +43. 7%), 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.

DEC pays a dividend while AR 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.