NGL vs WES

For growth investors, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the stronger pick with 6.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 5% for NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL). Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) offers the better valuation at 14. 1x trailing P/E (13. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL) a "Hold" — based on 17 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, Western Midstream Partners, LP is actually cheaper at 13.

4x.

Over the past 5 years, NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL) delivered a total return of +670.

4%, compared to +176. 6% for Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NGL returned +81. 6% versus WES's +66. 4%. 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), Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

28β versus NGL Energy Partners LP's 0. 67β — meaning NGL is approximately 143% more volatile than WES relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 4% for NGL Energy Partners LP — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is pulling ahead at 6.

6% versus -16. 5% for NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NGL Energy Partners LP grew EPS 72. 0% year-over-year, compared to -24. 4% for Western Midstream Partners, LP. Over a 3-year CAGR, WES leads at 5. 7% 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.

Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the more profitable company, earning 30.

7% net margin versus 1. 1% for NGL Energy Partners LP — meaning it keeps 30. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WES leads at 41. 7% versus 9. 5% for NGL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WES leads at 76. 2%, 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, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) trades at 13.

4x forward P/E versus 48. 3x for NGL Energy Partners LP — 34. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WES: -4. 1% to $41. 00.

In this comparison, NGL (14.

1% yield) pays a dividend. WES does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, NGL Energy Partners LP (NGL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

67), 14. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NGL: +81. 6%, WES: +66. 4%), 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: NGL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WES is a mid-cap deep-value stock. NGL pays a dividend while WES 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.