FF vs CLMT vs PARR vs GPRE vs REX

For growth investors, Calumet, Inc.

(CLMT) is the stronger pick with 0. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -60. 7% for FutureFuel Corp. (FF). Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (PARR) offers the better valuation at 8. 7x trailing P/E (5. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FutureFuel Corp. (FF) a "Buy" — based on 4 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, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) is the cheapest at 8. 7x versus REX American Resources Corporation at 29. 5x. On forward P/E, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 6x.

Over the past 5 years, Calumet, Inc.

(CLMT) delivered a total return of +496. 7%, compared to -48. 5% for Green Plains Inc. (GPRE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CLMT returned +830. 4% versus GPRE's +21. 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), Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 01β versus Green Plains Inc. 's 1. 22β — meaning GPRE is approximately -13755% more volatile than PARR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, REX American Resources Corporation (REX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 90% for Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Calumet, Inc.

(CLMT) is pulling ahead at 0. 2% versus -60. 7% for FutureFuel Corp. (FF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 1314% year-over-year, compared to -552. 5% for Calumet, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CLMT leads at 10. 0% 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.

REX American Resources Corporation (REX) is the more profitable company, earning 9.

1% net margin versus -51. 6% for FutureFuel Corp. — meaning it keeps 9. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: REX leads at 10. 0% versus -55. 3% for FF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PARR leads at 18. 1%, 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, Par Pacific Holdings, Inc.

(PARR) trades at 5. 6x forward P/E versus 452. 4x for Calumet, Inc. — 446. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for REX: 23. 3% to $60. 00.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Calumet, Inc.

(CLMT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 40), +830. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CLMT: +830. 4%, GPRE: +21. 3%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (FF (Basic Materials) and CLMT (Energy) and PARR (Energy) and GPRE (Basic Materials) and REX (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CLMT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PARR is a small-cap deep-value stock; GPRE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; REX is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.