Financial Review: Core Natural Resources (NYSE:CNR) & Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC)

Diversified Energy (NYSE:DEC) and Core Natural Resources (NYSE:CNR) are both energy companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Diversified Energy and Core Natural Resources’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Diversified Energy	N/A	N/A	N/A
Core Natural Resources	2.34%	0.03%	0.02%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Diversified Energy and Core Natural Resources”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Diversified Energy	$1.83 billion	0.54	$341.11 million	$3.23	4.32
Core Natural Resources	$4.16 billion	1.12	-$153.22 million	$1.99	47.24

Diversified Energy has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Core Natural Resources. Diversified Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Core Natural Resources, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Diversified Energy has a beta of -0.35, suggesting that its stock price is 135% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Core Natural Resources has a beta of 0.17, suggesting that its stock price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Diversified Energy pays an annual dividend of $1.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.3%. Core Natural Resources pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.4%. Diversified Energy pays out 35.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Core Natural Resources pays out 20.1% 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.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

26.5% of Diversified Energy shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 86.5% of Core Natural Resources shares are held by institutional investors. 2.9% of Diversified Energy shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.5% of Core Natural Resources shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Diversified Energy and Core Natural Resources, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Diversified Energy	0	3	7	0	2.70
Core Natural Resources	0	2	3	1	2.83

Diversified Energy currently has a consensus price target of $22.50, suggesting a potential upside of 61.17%. Core Natural Resources has a consensus price target of $115.00, suggesting a potential upside of 22.33%. Given Diversified Energy’s higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Diversified Energy is more favorable than Core Natural Resources.

Summary

Core Natural Resources beats Diversified Energy on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Diversified Energy

Diversified Energy Company PLC operates as an independent owner and operator of producing natural gas and oil wells primarily in the Appalachian Basin of the United States. The company is involved in the production, marketing, and transportation of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, and condensates. Its assets consist of natural gas wells and gathering systems located in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana. The company was formerly known as Diversified Gas & Oil PLC and changed its name to Diversified Energy Company PLC in May 2021. Diversified Energy Company PLC was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama.

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.