PAGP vs WES vs EPD vs PAA

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

6% 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. 2x trailing P/E (13. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Plains GP Holdings, L. P. (PAGP) a "Buy" — based on 29 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. 2x versus Plains GP Holdings, L. P. at 45. 4x. On forward P/E, Plains GP Holdings, L. P. is actually cheaper at 12. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Western Midstream Partners, LP wins at 0. 66x versus Enterprise Products Partners L. P. 's 1. 42x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Plains GP Holdings, L.

P. (PAGP) delivered a total return of +204. 0%, compared to +105. 7% for Enterprise Products Partners L. P. (EPD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EPD returned +119. 8% versus PAGP's +51. 9%. 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 Western Midstream Partners, LP's 0. 28β — meaning WES is approximately 336% more volatile than EPD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Plains GP Holdings, L. P. (PAGP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 55% versus 2% for Western Midstream 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 -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 -49. 0% for Plains GP Holdings, L. P.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PAGP leads at 6. 0% 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.

4% net margin versus 0. 2% for Plains GP Holdings, L. P. — meaning it keeps 30. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WES leads at 41. 3% versus 2. 3% for PAGP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WES leads at 68. 5%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 66x versus Enterprise Products Partners L. P. 's 1. 42x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Plains GP Holdings, L. P. (PAGP) trades at 12. 5x forward P/E versus 13. 8x for Plains All American Pipeline, L. P. — 1. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PAA: 2. 3% to $22. 60.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) offers the highest yield at 8. 2%, versus 5. 4% for Plains GP Holdings, L. P. (PAGP).

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, +119. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EPD: +119. 8%, WES: +72. 1%), 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: PAGP is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WES is a mid-cap deep-value stock; EPD is a mid-cap deep-value stock; PAA is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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.