Contrasting Riley Exploration Permian (NYSE:REPX) and Atlas Energy Group (OTCMKTS:ATLS)

Riley Exploration Permian (NYSE:REPX) and Atlas Energy Group (OTCMKTS:ATLS) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Risk & Volatility

Riley Exploration Permian has a beta of 1.52, meaning that its stock price is 52% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Atlas Energy Group has a beta of 0.38, meaning that its stock price is 62% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Riley Exploration Permian and Atlas Energy Group”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Riley Exploration Permian	$412.89 million	1.44	$111.59 million	$4.68	5.79
Atlas Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Riley Exploration Permian has higher revenue and earnings than Atlas Energy Group.

Profitability

This table compares Riley Exploration Permian and Atlas Energy Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Riley Exploration Permian	28.48%	23.82%	11.31%
Atlas Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Riley Exploration Permian and Atlas Energy Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Riley Exploration Permian	0	0	1	0	3.00
Atlas Energy Group	0	0	0	0	0.00

Riley Exploration Permian currently has a consensus target price of $47.00, suggesting a potential upside of 73.56%. Given Riley Exploration Permian’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Riley Exploration Permian is more favorable than Atlas Energy Group.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

58.9% of Riley Exploration Permian shares are held by institutional investors. 4.7% of Riley Exploration Permian shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.4% of Atlas Energy Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Riley Exploration Permian beats Atlas Energy Group on 9 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Riley Exploration Permian

Riley Exploration Permian, Inc., an independent oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in Texas and New Mexico. The company's activities are primarily focused on the Northwest Shelf and Yeso trend of the Permian Basin. Its acreage is primarily located on contiguous blocks in Yoakum County, Texas; and Eddy County, New Mexico. Riley Exploration Permian, Inc. is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

About Atlas Energy Group

Atlas Energy Group, LLC, through its subsidiaries, develops and produces natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The company has interests in the Eagle Ford Shale in southern Texas; the Marble Falls play in the Fort Worth Basin in northern Texas; and the Mississippi Lime play in northwestern Oklahoma. It also focuses on investing in master limited partnership qualifying energy-related businesses and assets. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Fort Worth, Texas.