Compare Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) vs Range Resources Corporation (RRC) Stock

Range Resources Corporation (RRC) offers the better valuation at 15.1x trailing P/E (11.9x 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.

On forward P/E, Gulfport Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 8.5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Range Resources Corporation (RRC) delivered a total return of +323.1%, compared to +186.0% for Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR). A $10,000 investment in RRC five years ago would be worth approximately $42K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GPOR returned +186.0% versus RRC's +80.2%. 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), Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.76β versus Range Resources Corporation's 0.83β — meaning RRC is approximately 10% more volatile than GPOR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Range Resources Corporation (RRC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 29% versus 41% for Gulfport Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

Range Resources Corporation (RRC) is the more profitable company, earning 21.1% net margin versus -28.1% for Gulfport Energy Corporation — meaning it keeps 21.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RRC leads at 16.1% 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.

On forward earnings alone, Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR) trades at 8.5x forward P/E versus 11.9x for Range Resources Corporation — 3.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for GPOR: 14.2% to $238.25.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Range Resources Corporation (RRC) offers the highest yield at 0.9%, versus 0.1% for Gulfport Energy Corporation (GPOR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Range Resources Corporation (RRC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.83), 0.9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (RRC: +80.2%, 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.

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; RRC is a small-cap deep-value stock. RRC 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.