EPM vs PED

For growth investors, PEDEVCO Corp.

(PED) is the stronger pick with 28. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 0% for Evolution Petroleum Corporation (EPM). PEDEVCO Corp. (PED) offers the better valuation at 3. 7x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Evolution Petroleum Corporation (EPM) a "Buy" — based on 9 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, PEDEVCO Corp.

(PED) is the cheapest at 3. 7x versus Evolution Petroleum Corporation at 141. 9x.

Over the past 5 years, Evolution Petroleum Corporation (EPM) delivered a total return of +91.

9%, compared to -45. 3% for PEDEVCO Corp. (PED). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EPM returned +69. 4% versus PED's -67. 1%. 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), PEDEVCO Corp.

(PED) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 82β versus Evolution Petroleum Corporation's 0. 38β — meaning EPM is approximately -146% more volatile than PED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, PEDEVCO Corp. (PED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 52% for Evolution Petroleum Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), PEDEVCO Corp.

(PED) is pulling ahead at 28. 5% versus -0. 0% for Evolution Petroleum Corporation (EPM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PEDEVCO Corp. grew EPS 65. 7% year-over-year, compared to -72. 3% for Evolution Petroleum Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, PED leads at 35. 6% 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.

PEDEVCO Corp.

(PED) is the more profitable company, earning 45. 0% net margin versus 1. 7% for Evolution Petroleum Corporation — meaning it keeps 45. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PED leads at 11. 9% versus 4. 9% for EPM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PED leads at 28. 3%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EPM: 9.

3% to $5. 15.

In this comparison, EPM (10.

4% yield) pays a dividend. PED does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, PEDEVCO Corp.

(PED) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 82)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PED: -67. 1%, EPM: +69. 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: EPM is a small-cap income-oriented stock; PED is a small-cap high-growth stock. EPM pays a dividend while PED 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.