APA (NASDAQ:APA – Get Free Report) and California Resources (OTCMKTS:CRCQQ – Get Free Report) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, earnings and valuation.
Profitability
This table compares APA and California Resources’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| APA | 24.36% | 27.86% | 7.99% |
| California Resources | -95.33% | -4.31% | -3.78% |
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares APA and California Resources”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| APA | $8.19 billion | 1.01 | $2.86 billion | $7.08 | 3.17 |
| California Resources | $2.63 billion | 0.00 | -$28.00 million | N/A | N/A |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
83.0% of APA shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 35.7% of California Resources shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of APA shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 4.1% of California Resources shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for APA and California Resources, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| APA | 4 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 2.15 |
| California Resources | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
APA presently has a consensus price target of $32.81, suggesting a potential upside of 46.08%. Given APA’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe APA is more favorable than California Resources.
Summary
APA beats California Resources on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About APA
APA Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces natural gas, crude oil, and natural gas liquids. It has oil and gas operations in the United States, Egypt, and North Sea. The company also has exploration and appraisal activities in Suriname, as well as holds interests in projects located in Uruguay and internationally. APA Corporation was incorporated in 1954 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
About California Resources
California Resources Corporation operates as an oil and natural gas exploration and production company in the State of California. The company sells crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids to marketers, California refineries, and other purchasers that have access to transportation and storage facilities. It holds interests in approximately 2.2 million net acres of mineral acreage. As of December 31, 2019, the company had net proved reserves of 644 million barrels of oil equivalent. It also engages in the generation and sale of electricity to the grid and utility customers. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in Los Angeles, California. On July 15, 2020, California Resources Corporation, along with its affiliates, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.
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