GLP vs EPD

For growth investors, Global Partners LP (GLP) is the stronger pick with 8.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -6. 4% for Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD). Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (13. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD) a "Buy" — based on 45 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, Enterprise Products Partners L.

P. (EPD) is the cheapest at 14. 1x versus Global Partners LP at 22. 7x. On forward P/E, Enterprise Products Partners L. P. is actually cheaper at 13. 1x.

Over the past 5 years, Global Partners LP (GLP) delivered a total return of +132.

7%, compared to +104. 8% for Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GLP returned +455. 9% versus EPD's +116. 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), Enterprise Products Partners L.

P. (EPD) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 06β versus Global Partners LP's 0. 25β — meaning GLP is approximately 294% more volatile than EPD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 114% versus 2% for Global Partners LP — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Global Partners LP (GLP) is pulling ahead at 8.

1% versus -6. 4% for Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Enterprise Products Partners L. P. grew EPS -1. 1% year-over-year, compared to -12. 4% for Global Partners LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, GLP leads at -0. 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.

Enterprise Products Partners L.

P. (EPD) is the more profitable company, earning 11. 1% net margin versus 0. 4% for Global Partners LP — meaning it keeps 11. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EPD leads at 13. 1% versus 1. 3% for GLP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EPD leads at 13. 6%, 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, Enterprise Products Partners L.

P. (EPD) trades at 13. 1x forward P/E versus 15. 0x for Global Partners LP — 1. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EPD: -1. 5% to $37. 00.

In this comparison, EPD (5.

7% yield) pays a dividend. GLP does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Enterprise Products Partners L.

P. (EPD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 06), 5. 7% yield, +116. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EPD: +116. 1%, GLP: +455. 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.

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: GLP is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EPD is a mid-cap deep-value stock. EPD pays a dividend while GLP 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.