WLKP vs MPLX vs HESM vs CAPL vs WLK

For growth investors, Hess Midstream LP (HESM) is the stronger pick with 8.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -10. 6% for CrossAmerica Partners LP (CAPL). Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) offers the better valuation at 2. 7x trailing P/E (12. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate MPLX Lp (MPLX) a "Buy" — based on 28 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, Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) is the cheapest at 2.

7x versus CrossAmerica Partners LP at 19. 5x. On forward P/E, Westlake Chemical Partners LP is actually cheaper at 12. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Westlake Chemical Partners LP wins at 0. 35x versus Hess Midstream LP's 0. 79x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, MPLX Lp (MPLX) delivered a total return of +157.

2%, compared to +2. 3% for Westlake Corporation (WLK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MPLX returned +184. 4% versus CAPL's +87. 5%. 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), CrossAmerica Partners LP (CAPL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

06β versus Westlake Corporation's 1. 06β — meaning WLK is approximately 1809% more volatile than CAPL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 50% versus 9% for Hess Midstream LP — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hess Midstream LP (HESM) is pulling ahead at 8.

7% versus -10. 6% for CrossAmerica Partners LP (CAPL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Westlake Chemical Partners LP grew EPS 378. 5% year-over-year, compared to -352. 8% for Westlake Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, HESM leads at 8. 4% 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.

MPLX Lp (MPLX) is the more profitable company, earning 41.

6% net margin versus -13. 5% for Westlake Corporation — meaning it keeps 41. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HESM leads at 62. 2% versus -14. 1% for WLK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HESM leads at 63. 9%, 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, Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 35x versus Hess Midstream LP's 0. 79x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) trades at 12. 3x forward P/E versus 49. 5x for CrossAmerica Partners LP — 37. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WLKP: 25. 0% to $29. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CrossAmerica Partners LP (CAPL) offers the highest yield at 9. 9%, versus 2. 2% for Westlake Corporation (WLK).

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

06), 9. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAPL: +87. 5%, WLK: +142. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (WLKP (Basic Materials) and MPLX (Energy) and HESM (Energy) and CAPL (Energy) and WLK (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: WLKP is a small-cap deep-value stock; MPLX is a mid-cap deep-value stock; HESM is a small-cap deep-value stock; CAPL is a small-cap income-oriented stock; WLK is a mid-cap quality compounder 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.