EP vs CIVI

For growth investors, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the stronger pick with 49. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -22. 3% for Empire Petroleum Corporation (EP). 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 Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) a "Hold" — based on 16 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, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) delivered a total return of +31. 9%, compared to -63. 8% for Empire Petroleum Corporation (EP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EP returned +705. 9% 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), Empire Petroleum Corporation (EP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

07β versus Civitas Resources, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning CIVI is approximately 2% more volatile than EP relative to the S&P 500.

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

(CIVI) is pulling ahead at 49. 8% versus -22. 3% for Empire Petroleum Corporation (EP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Civitas Resources, Inc. grew EPS -6. 2% year-over-year, compared to -292. 6% for Empire Petroleum Corporation. 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.

Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 1% net margin versus -210. 7% for Empire Petroleum Corporation — meaning it keeps 16. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CIVI leads at 29. 0% versus -58. 6% for EP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CIVI leads at 41. 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.

In this comparison, CIVI (18.

2% yield) pays a dividend. EP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Empire Petroleum Corporation (EP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

07), +705. 9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EP: +705. 9%, 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: EP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CIVI is a small-cap high-growth stock. CIVI pays a dividend while EP 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.