GASS vs LNG vs CQP vs GLNG vs NEXT

For growth investors, Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) is the stronger pick with 51.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -9. 9% for Cheniere Energy Partners, L. P. (CQP). StealthGas Inc. (GASS) offers the better valuation at 5. 8x trailing P/E (5. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate StealthGas Inc. (GASS) a "Buy" — based on 11 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, StealthGas Inc.

(GASS) is the cheapest at 5. 8x versus Golar LNG Limited at 84. 7x. On forward P/E, StealthGas Inc. is actually cheaper at 5. 9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: StealthGas Inc. wins at 0. 15x versus Cheniere Energy Partners, L. P. 's 1. 09x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) delivered a total return of +406.

8%, compared to +94. 1% for Cheniere Energy Partners, L. P. (CQP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LNG returned +692. 8% versus NEXT's -23. 0%. 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), Cheniere Energy, Inc.

(LNG) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 33β versus StealthGas Inc. 's 0. 52β — meaning GASS is approximately -259% more volatile than LNG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, StealthGas Inc. (GASS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 4% for NextDecade Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Golar LNG Limited (GLNG) is pulling ahead at 51.

1% versus -9. 9% for Cheniere Energy Partners, L. P. (CQP). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cheniere Energy, Inc. grew EPS 69. 9% year-over-year, compared to -387. 5% for NextDecade Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, GLNG leads at 13. 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.

StealthGas Inc.

(GASS) is the more profitable company, earning 35. 0% net margin versus 0. 0% for NextDecade Corporation — meaning it keeps 35. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CQP leads at 37. 7% versus 0. 0% for NEXT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CQP leads at 51. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, StealthGas Inc. (GASS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 15x versus Cheniere Energy Partners, L. P. 's 1. 09x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, StealthGas Inc. (GASS) trades at 5. 9x forward P/E versus 69. 3x for Golar LNG Limited — 63. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CQP: 18. 6% to $75. 00.

In this comparison, CQP (7.

3% yield), GLNG (5. 5% yield), LNG (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. GASS, NEXT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cheniere Energy, Inc.

(LNG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 33), 0. 8% yield, +692. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LNG: +692. 8%, GASS: +124. 8%), 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 (GASS (Industrials) and LNG (Energy) and CQP (Energy) and GLNG (Energy) and NEXT (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GASS is a small-cap deep-value stock; LNG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CQP is a mid-cap deep-value stock; GLNG is a small-cap high-growth stock; NEXT is a small-cap quality compounder stock. LNG, CQP, GLNG pay a dividend while GASS, NEXT do 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.