GLDD vs CIVI vs MTDR vs CTRA

For growth investors, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the stronger pick with 49. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). 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 Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD) a "Buy" — based on 7 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, Civitas Resources, Inc.

(CIVI) is the cheapest at 3. 2x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation at 15. 7x. On forward P/E, Civitas Resources, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Civitas Resources, Inc. wins at 0. 32x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) delivered a total return of +125. 2%, compared to +19. 7% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GLDD returned +276. 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), Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus Civitas Resources, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning CIVI is approximately 3575% more volatile than CTRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 27% versus 89% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CIVI) is pulling ahead at 49. 8% versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Coterra Energy Inc. grew EPS 49. 0% year-over-year, compared to -14. 7% for Matador Resources Company. 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.

Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 4% net margin versus 8. 3% for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation — meaning it keeps 62. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRA leads at 89. 1% versus 14. 1% for GLDD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRA leads at 60. 4%, 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, Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 32x versus Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's 9. 93x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Civitas Resources, Inc. (CIVI) trades at 6. 8x forward P/E versus 15. 4x for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation — 8. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTDR: 22. 9% to $68. 29.

In this comparison, CIVI (18.

2% yield), CTRA (2. 8% yield), MTDR (2. 4% yield) pay a dividend. GLDD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

06), 2. 4% yield, +201. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MTDR: +201. 8%, GLDD: +276. 9%), 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 (GLDD (Industrials) and CIVI (Energy) and MTDR (Energy) and CTRA (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: GLDD is a small-cap high-growth stock; CIVI is a small-cap high-growth stock; MTDR is a small-cap deep-value stock; CTRA is a mid-cap deep-value stock. CIVI, MTDR, CTRA pay a dividend while GLDD 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.