Head-To-Head Comparison: Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) vs. Expand Energy (NASDAQ:EXE)

Expand Energy (NASDAQ:EXE) and Gulfport Energy (NYSE:GPOR) are both energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, valuation and earnings.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

97.9% of Expand Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Expand Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Gulfport Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Expand Energy has a beta of 0.34, indicating that its stock price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Gulfport Energy has a beta of 0.43, indicating that its stock price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Expand Energy and Gulfport Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Expand Energy	20.46%	10.33%	6.89%
Gulfport Energy	32.28%	21.87%	13.08%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Expand Energy and Gulfport Energy”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Expand Energy	$12.12 billion	1.67	$1.82 billion	$11.58	7.56
Gulfport Energy	$1.42 billion	1.98	$427.81 million	$25.00	6.38

Expand Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Gulfport Energy. Gulfport Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Expand Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Expand Energy and Gulfport Energy, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Expand Energy	0	6	15	3	2.88
Gulfport Energy	1	8	5	1	2.40

Expand Energy presently has a consensus price target of $127.42, indicating a potential upside of 45.64%. Gulfport Energy has a consensus price target of $217.50, indicating a potential upside of 36.36%. Given Expand Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Expand Energy is more favorable than Gulfport Energy.

Summary

Expand Energy beats Gulfport Energy on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Expand Energy

Expand Energy Corporation is an independent natural gas producer principally in the United States. Expand Energy Corporation, formerly known as Chesapeake Energy Corporation, is based in OKLAHOMA CITY.

About Gulfport Energy

Gulfport Energy Corporation engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, production of natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids (NGL) in the United States. Its principal properties include Utica Shale covering an area approximately 187,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Eastern Ohio; and SCOOP covering an area approximately 74,000 net reservoir acres primarily located in Garvin, Grady, and Stephens. As of December 31, 2021, it had 3.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent to proved reserves; and proved undeveloped reserves comprising 8 MMbbl oil and 22 MMBbl NGL, and 1,550 Bcf natural gas. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.