Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
MGY vs MTDR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
MGY vs MTDR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production | Oil & Gas Exploration & Production |
| Market Cap | $5.23B | $6.90B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.32B | $3.36B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $322M | $483M |
| Gross Margin | 46.5% | 102.0% |
| Operating Margin | 32.7% | 26.3% |
| Forward P/E | 10.3x | 7.7x |
| Total Debt | $420M | $3.55B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $267M | $79M |
MGY vs MTDR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia Oil & Gas … (MGY) | 100 | 507.2 | +407.2% |
| Matador Resources C… (MTDR) | 100 | 708.8 | +608.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MGY vs MTDR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MGY is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 203.8% 10Y total return vs MTDR's 201.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.24, Low D/E 21.0%, current ratio 1.54x
- 24.4% margin vs MTDR's 14.4%
MTDR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 5 yrs, beta 0.06, yield 2.4%
- Rev growth 5.1%, EPS growth -14.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.1%
- Beta 0.06, yield 2.4%, current ratio 0.79x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5.1% revenue growth vs MGY's -0.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (7.7x vs 10.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 24.4% margin vs MTDR's 14.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.06 vs MGY's 0.24 | |
| Dividends | 2.4% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs MGY's 2.2% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +42.2% vs MGY's +39.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 11.1% ROA vs MTDR's 4.1%, ROIC 15.4% vs 10.5% |
MGY vs MTDR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
MGY vs MTDR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MGY leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MTDR is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.4B annually — 2.5x MGY's $1.3B. MGY is the more profitable business, keeping 24.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MTDR's 14.4%. On growth, MGY holds the edge at +2.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $880M | $2.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $322M | $483M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $396M | $518M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.5% | +102.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +32.7% | +26.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.4% | +14.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +30.0% | +15.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.3% | -33.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | -115.1% |
Valuation Metrics
MTDR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.1x trailing earnings, MTDR trades at a 43% valuation discount to MGY's 16.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, MTDR's 4.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MGY's 6.1x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5.2B | $6.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.4B | $10.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.09x | 9.12x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 10.32x | 7.72x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.09x | 4.34x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.98x | 1.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.61x | 1.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.77x | 28.57x |
Profitability & Efficiency
MGY leads this category, winning 9 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MGY delivers a 16.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $8 for MTDR. MGY carries lower financial leverage with a 0.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MTDR's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MGY scores 6/9 vs MTDR's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +16.0% | +8.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.1% | +4.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +15.4% | +10.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.1% | +11.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.21x | 0.59x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $153M | $3.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $267M | $79M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $420M | $3.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 19.21x | 7.88x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MGY leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MGY five years ago would be worth $24,655 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $20,548 for MTDR. Over the past 12 months, MTDR leads with a +42.2% total return vs MGY's +39.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MGY at 14.4% vs MTDR's 9.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +26.0% | +29.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +39.1% | +42.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.6% | +29.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +146.6% | +105.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +203.8% | +201.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.4% | +9.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MGY and MTDR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
MTDR is the less volatile stock with a 0.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MGY's 0.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.24x | 0.06x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $32.76 | $66.84 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $20.45 | $37.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.9% | +83.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.4 | 43.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 1.8M |
Analyst Outlook
MTDR leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MGY as "Buy" and MTDR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.9% upside for MTDR (target: $68) vs 3.4% for MGY (target: $29). For income investors, MTDR offers the higher dividend yield at 2.36% vs MGY's 2.16%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.11 | $68.29 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 42 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.2% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.61 | $1.31 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.9% | +0.8% |
MGY leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). MTDR leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
MGY vs MTDR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MGY or MTDR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the stronger pick with 5.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 3% for Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY). Matador Resources Company (MTDR) offers the better valuation at 9. 1x trailing P/E (7. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) a "Buy" — based on 26 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 — MGY or MTDR?
On trailing P/E, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the cheapest at 9.
1x versus Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation at 16. 1x. On forward P/E, Matador Resources Company is actually cheaper at 7. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MGY or MTDR?
Over the past 5 years, Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) delivered a total return of +146.
6%, compared to +105. 5% for Matador Resources Company (MTDR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MGY returned +203. 8% versus MTDR's +201. 8%. 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 — MGY or MTDR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
06β versus Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation's 0. 24β — meaning MGY is approximately 284% more volatile than MTDR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 59% for Matador Resources Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MGY or MTDR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Matador Resources Company (MTDR) is pulling ahead at 5.
1% versus -0. 3% for Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation grew EPS -9. 8% year-over-year, compared to -14. 7% for Matador Resources Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, MTDR leads at 6. 1% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — MGY or MTDR?
Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY) is the more profitable company, earning 24.
8% net margin versus 20. 8% for Matador Resources Company — meaning it keeps 24. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MGY leads at 33. 5% versus 32. 5% for MTDR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MGY leads at 46. 7%, 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.
07Is MGY or MTDR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Matador Resources Company (MTDR) trades at 7.
7x forward P/E versus 10. 3x for Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation — 2. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTDR: 22. 9% to $68. 29.
08Which pays a better dividend — MGY or MTDR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Matador Resources Company (MTDR) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 2. 2% for Magnolia Oil & Gas Corporation (MGY).
09Is MGY or MTDR better for a retirement portfolio?
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%, MGY: +203. 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.
10What are the main differences between MGY and MTDR?
Both stocks operate in the Energy sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
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 outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.