SunCoke Energy (NYSE:SXC – Get Free Report) and Core Natural Resources (NYSE:CNR – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings and valuation.
Dividends
SunCoke Energy pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.5%. Core Natural Resources pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. SunCoke Energy pays out -92.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Core Natural Resources pays out -13.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. SunCoke Energy has raised its dividend for 4 consecutive years. SunCoke Energy is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.
Volatility & Risk
SunCoke Energy has a beta of 0.86, meaning that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Core Natural Resources has a beta of 0.25, meaning that its stock price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Valuation and Earnings
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| SunCoke Energy | $1.84 billion | 0.29 | -$44.20 million | ($0.52) | -12.24 |
| Core Natural Resources | $4.16 billion | 1.23 | -$153.22 million | ($3.01) | -33.66 |
SunCoke Energy has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Core Natural Resources. Core Natural Resources is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than SunCoke Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
90.5% of SunCoke Energy shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.5% of Core Natural Resources shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of SunCoke Energy shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Core Natural Resources shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares SunCoke Energy and Core Natural Resources’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| SunCoke Energy | -2.41% | 7.43% | 2.93% |
| Core Natural Resources | -3.68% | -4.05% | -2.47% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for SunCoke Energy and Core Natural Resources, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| SunCoke Energy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 |
| Core Natural Resources | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2.50 |
SunCoke Energy currently has a consensus target price of $9.00, indicating a potential upside of 41.40%. Core Natural Resources has a consensus target price of $113.75, indicating a potential upside of 12.27%. Given SunCoke Energy’s higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe SunCoke Energy is more favorable than Core Natural Resources.
Summary
SunCoke Energy beats Core Natural Resources on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.
About SunCoke Energy
SunCoke Energy, Inc. operates as an independent producer of coke in the Americas and Brazil. The company operates through three segments: Domestic Coke, Brazil Coke, and Logistics. It offers metallurgical and thermal coal. The company also provides handling and/or mixing services to steel, coke, electric utility, coal producing, and other manufacturing based customers. In addition, it owns and operates cokemaking facilities in the United States and Brazil. The company was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Lisle, Illinois.
About Core Natural Resources
Core Natural Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells bituminous coal in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Pennsylvania Mining Complex (PAMC) and CONSOL Marine Terminal. The company’s PAMC segment engages in the mining, preparing, and marketing of bituminous coal to power generators, industrial end-users, and metallurgical end-users. This segment includes the Bailey Mine, the Enlow Fork Mine, the Harvey Mine, and the central preparation plant. Its CONSOL Marine Terminal segment provides coal export terminal services through the Port of Baltimore. The company also develops and operates the Itmann Mining Complex located in Wyoming County, West Virginia; and Greenfield Reserves and Resources located in the Northern Appalachian, Central Appalachian, and Illinois basins. The company was formerly known as CONSOL Energy Inc. and changed its name to Core Natural Resources, Inc. in January 2025. Core Natural Resources, Inc. was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
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