REPX vs FANG vs MTDR vs CTRA

For growth investors, Diamondback Energy, Inc.

(FANG) is the stronger pick with 36. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (REPX) offers the better valuation at 4. 5x trailing P/E (6. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (REPX) a "Buy" — based on 3 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, Riley Exploration Permian, Inc.

(REPX) is the cheapest at 4. 5x versus Diamondback Energy, Inc. at 33. 2x. On forward P/E, Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 4x.

Over the past 5 years, Diamondback Energy, Inc.

(FANG) delivered a total return of +163. 7%, compared to +20. 4% for Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (REPX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MTDR returned +201. 8% versus CTRA's +68. 7%. 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), Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 03β versus Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. 's 0. 47β — meaning REPX is approximately 1491% more volatile than CTRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 27% versus 59% for Matador Resources Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Diamondback Energy, Inc.

(FANG) is pulling ahead at 36. 3% versus -49. 6% for Coterra Energy Inc. (CTRA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. grew EPS 78. 2% year-over-year, compared to -63. 1% for Diamondback Energy, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FANG leads at 16. 2% 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.

Coterra Energy Inc.

(CTRA) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 4% net margin versus 11. 1% for Diamondback Energy, Inc. — meaning it keeps 62. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTRA leads at 89. 1% versus 32. 5% for MTDR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTRA leads at 60. 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, Riley Exploration Permian, Inc.

(REPX) trades at 6. 4x forward P/E versus 11. 5x for Coterra Energy Inc. — 5. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MTDR: 22. 9% to $68. 29.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. (REPX) offers the highest yield at 4. 6%, versus 2. 1% for Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG).

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%, REPX: +183. 6%), 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: REPX is a small-cap deep-value stock; FANG is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MTDR is a small-cap deep-value stock; CTRA is a mid-cap deep-value 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.