Mplx (NYSE:MPLX) and Vista Energy (NYSE:VIST) Critical Review

Mplx (NYSE:MPLX) and Vista Energy (NYSE:VIST) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, risk and analyst recommendations.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

24.2% of Mplx shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.8% of Vista Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Mplx and Vista Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Mplx	35.75%	32.83%	10.98%
Vista Energy	23.56%	20.26%	7.25%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Mplx and Vista Energy, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Mplx	0	7	6	1	2.57
Vista Energy	0	1	5	0	2.83

Mplx presently has a consensus target price of $63.80, suggesting a potential upside of 13.24%. Vista Energy has a consensus target price of $83.44, suggesting a potential upside of 27.50%. Given Vista Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Vista Energy is more favorable than Mplx.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Mplx and Vista Energy”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Mplx	$13.00 billion	4.39	$4.91 billion	$4.65	12.12
Vista Energy	$2.47 billion	2.76	$719.06 million	$7.58	8.63

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

Volatility and Risk

Mplx has a beta of 0.48, suggesting that its share price is 52% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vista Energy has a beta of 0.63, suggesting that its share price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Mplx beats Vista Energy on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Mplx

MPLX LP engages in the operation of midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets, and distribution fuels services. It operates through the Crude Oil and Products Logistics and Natural Gas and NGL Services segments. The Crude Oil and Products Logistics segment transports, stores, distributes, and markets crude oil, asphalt, refined petroleum products, and water. The Natural Gas and NGL Services segment gathers, processes, and transports natural gas, and gathers, transports, fractionates, stores, and markets natural gas liquids (NGLs). The company was founded on March 27, 2012 and is headquartered in Findlay, OH.

About Vista Energy

Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Latin America. The company's principal assets located in Neuquina basin, Argentina and Vaca Muerta. It owns producing assets in Argentina and Mexico. In addition, the company involved in drilling and workover activities located in Argentina. The company was formerly known as Vista Oil & Gas, S.A.B. de C.V. and changed its name to Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. in April 2022. Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Mexico City, Mexico.