Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) vs California Resources Corporation (CRC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CRC | 5.1% revenue growth vs GPOR's -11.7% |
| Value | GPOR | Lower P/E (8.5x vs 45.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | GPOR | 28.2% net margin vs CRC's 10.9% |
| Stability / Safety | GPOR | Beta 0.76 vs CRC's 1.26 |
| Dividends | CRC | 2.4% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs GPOR's 0.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CRC | +35.4% vs GPOR's +22.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GPOR | 14.1% ROA vs CRC's 5.7%, ROIC -6.6% vs 14.5% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Gulfport Energy is an independent natural gas and oil exploration and production company focused on developing reserves in the Utica Shale and SCOOP plays. It generates revenue primarily from natural gas sales (roughly 70% of total revenue), with the remainder coming from crude oil and natural gas liquids production. The company's competitive advantage lies in its large, low-cost acreage positions in premium shale plays—particularly its core Utica Shale assets in Ohio—which provide substantial proved reserves and efficient drilling inventory.
California Resources Corporation is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused exclusively on California. It generates revenue primarily from crude oil sales (~60%), natural gas and natural gas liquids (~25%), and electricity generation from its cogeneration facilities (~15%). The company's key advantage is its extensive mineral acreage position—approximately 1.9 million net acres—in a mature, high-barrier-to-entry California market with established infrastructure.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
GPOR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CRC leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CRC is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.5B annually — 2.3x GPOR's $1.5B. GPOR is the more profitable business, keeping 28.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CRC's 10.9%. On growth, GPOR holds the edge at +94.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | GPORGulfport Energy C… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $906M | $1.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $428M | $384M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $276M | $545M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +86.6% | +37.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +39.6% | +21.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +28.2% | +10.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.2% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +94.9% | -11.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +144.4% | -79.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, GPOR's 52.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRC's 4761.3x.
| Metric | GPORGulfport Energy C… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.9B | $5.36T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.6B | $5.36T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -14.18x | 12.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.53x | 45.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 52.07x | 4761.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.23x | 1812.76x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.15x | 1.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.03x | 9999.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GPOR delivers a 23.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $23 in annual profit, vs $11 for CRC. CRC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.35x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to GPOR's 0.41x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GPOR scores 4/9 vs CRC's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | GPORGulfport Energy C… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +23.3% | +11.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.1% | +5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.6% | +14.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -8.7% | +13.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $707M | $851M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1M | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $709M | $1.2B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.95x | 5.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GPOR five years ago would be worth $28,603 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $24,361 for CRC. Over the past 12 months, CRC leads with a +35.4% total return vs GPOR's +22.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GPOR at 46.7% vs CRC's 14.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GPORGulfport Energy C… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.2% | +26.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +22.9% | +35.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +215.6% | +49.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +186.0% | +143.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +186.0% | +1037.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +46.7% | +14.3% |
Risk & Volatility
GPOR is the less volatile stock with a 0.76 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRC's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRC currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs GPOR's 92.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GPORGulfport Energy C… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.76x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $225.78 | $60.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $153.27 | $30.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +92.4% | +98.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 52.5 | 61.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 233K | 696K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GPOR as "Buy" and CRC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.2% upside for GPOR (target: $238) vs 11.7% for CRC (target: $66). For income investors, CRC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.36% vs GPOR's 0.11%.
| Metric | GPORGulfport Energy C… | CRCCalifornia Resour… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $238.25 | $65.71 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.23 | $1.39 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.7% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | May 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport Energy Cor… (GPOR) | 100 | 266.63 | +166.6% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 100 | 176.2 | +76.2% |
Gulfport Energy Cor… (GPOR) returned +186% over 5 years vs California Resource… (CRC)'s +144%. A $10,000 investment in GPOR 5 years ago would be worth $28,603 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport Energy Cor… (GPOR) | $505M | $929M | +83.7% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | $2.4B | $3.0B | +25.8% |
Gulfport Energy Corporation's revenue grew from $505M (2015) to $929M (2024) — a 7.0% CAGR. California Resources Corporation's revenue grew from $2.4B (2015) to $3.0B (2024) — a 2.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport Energy Cor… (GPOR) | -2.4% | -28.1% | -1061.6% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -151.2% | 12.7% | +108.4% |
Gulfport Energy Corporation's net margin went from -2% (2015) to -28% (2024). California Resources Corporation's net margin went from -151% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 6 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport Energy Cor… (GPOR) | 11.1 | 2 | -82.0% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | 2.5 | 11.2 | +348.0% |
Gulfport Energy Corporation has traded in a 2x–11x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-14x. California Resources Corporation has traded in a 1x–11x P/E range over 6 years; current trailing P/E is ~13x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport Energy Cor… (GPOR) | -12.27 | -14.72 | -20.0% |
| California Resource… (CRC) | -92.79 | 4.62 | +105.0% |
Gulfport Energy Corporation's EPS grew from $-12.27 (2015) to $-14.72 (2024). California Resources Corporation's EPS grew from $-92.79 (2015) to $4.62 (2024).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Gulfport Energy Corporation generated $196M FCF in 2024 (+26% vs 2021). California Resources Corporation generated $350M FCF in 2024 (-25% vs 2021).
GPOR vs CRC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GPOR or CRC a better buy right now?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the better valuation at 12.7x trailing P/E (45.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) a "Buy" — based on 8 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.
02Which has the better valuation — GPOR or CRC?
On forward P/E, Gulfport Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 8.5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — GPOR or CRC?
Over the past 5 years, Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) delivered a total return of +186.0%, compared to +143.6% for California Resources Corporation (CRC). A $10,000 investment in GPOR five years ago would be worth approximately $29K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRC returned +1037% versus GPOR's +186.0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — GPOR or CRC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.76β versus California Resources Corporation's 1.26β — meaning CRC is approximately 67% more volatile than GPOR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, California Resources Corporation (CRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 35% versus 41% for Gulfport Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — GPOR or CRC?
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the more profitable company, earning 12.7% net margin versus -28.1% for Gulfport Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 12.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRC leads at 22.0% versus -25.5% for GPOR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GPOR leads at 57.4%, 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.
06Is GPOR or CRC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) trades at 8.5x forward P/E versus 45.3x for California Resources Corporation — 36.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GPOR: 14.2% to $238.25.
07Which pays a better dividend — GPOR or CRC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. California Resources Corporation (CRC) offers the highest yield at 2.4%, versus 0.1% for Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR).
08Is GPOR or CRC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, California Resources Corporation (CRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.26), 2.4% yield, +1037% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRC: +1037%, GPOR: +186.0%), 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.
09What are the main differences between GPOR and CRC?
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: GPOR is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CRC is a mega-cap deep-value stock. CRC pays a dividend while GPOR 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.