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PAA vs WES
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) vs. Western Midstream Partners (WES) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- PAA has delivered stronger year-to-date returns of 29.58% compared to WES's 11.51%, reflecting robust momentum in recent market activity.
- Both midstream master limited partnerships (MLPs) offer high dividend yields, with WES at 8.82% edging out PAA's 7.13%.
- PAA trades near its 52-week high with lower volatility (beta 0.48), while WES shows a lower P/E ratio of 14.15 versus PAA's 19.97.
- Recent analyst actions include buy initiations for PAA and price target adjustments for both, signaling positive sentiment amid stable distributions.
- WES boasts higher EPS at $2.98 TTM compared to PAA's $1.12, highlighting earnings strength.
Introduction
Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) and Western Midstream Partners (WES) are prominent midstream energy master limited partnerships (MLPs) focused on pipelines and logistics for crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. This stock comparison evaluates their relative performance, valuation, and market positioning in the current environment, where energy demand stability and high yields attract income-oriented investors and traders. Those seeking exposure to the midstream sector amid fluctuating commodity prices may find insights into momentum, dividends, and growth drivers particularly relevant for portfolio decisions.
PAA Overview and Recent Performance
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (PAA) operates an extensive network of crude oil and NGL pipelines, storage, and terminals primarily in the Permian and Eagle Ford basins. In recent market activity, PAA shares have climbed toward the upper end of their 52-week range (15.69-23.04), driven by strong year-to-date gains of 29.58% and one-year returns of 45.41%. Sentiment has benefited from analyst buy ratings, such as Truist's initiation, and steady quarterly distributions of $0.4175 per unit, with ex-date in early May. Lower volatility (beta 0.48) and momentum recognition have supported price stability despite sector headwinds, positioning PAA as a top performer ahead of Q1 earnings.
WES Overview and Recent Performance
Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) provides gathering, processing, and transportation services for natural gas, NGLs, and crude oil, with key assets in the Delaware Basin and Rockies. Shares have navigated recent weeks with year-to-date returns of 11.51% and one-year gains of 26.85%, occasionally outperforming the broader market amid pullbacks. The company announced its Q1 2026 distribution of $0.93 per unit, payable mid-May, reinforcing its appeal for yield seekers with an 8.82% forward dividend rate. Analyst price target tweaks, including from JPMorgan, reflect balanced views on valuation after multi-year gains, as WES approaches Q1 earnings with solid net income trends.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both PAA and WES thrive in midstream operations but differ in focus: PAA emphasizes crude oil logistics, benefiting from Permian volume growth, while WES leans on natural gas gathering and processing for steadier fee-based revenues. Growth drivers include basin expansions for PAA and 2027 projects for WES. Recent momentum favors PAA with superior returns, but WES counters with a lower P/E (14.15 vs. 19.97) and higher yield, trading at a modest discount to fair value. Risk factors involve commodity sensitivity and regulatory reviews, though both exhibit low betas (0.48 for PAA, 0.67 for WES). Market sentiment tilts toward PAA's stability amid energy sector resilience.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI analysis currently leans toward PAA due to its superior trend consistency, higher recent returns, and proximity to 52-week highs, suggesting stronger relative positioning amid midstream stability. While WES offers attractive valuation metrics and yield, PAA's momentum and lower volatility provide a probabilistic edge for near-term outperformance, barring shifts in energy demand or earnings surprises.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is PAA is a Hold and WES is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
PAA’s FA Score shows that 2 FA rating(s) are green whileWES’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- PAA’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
- WES’s FA Score: 4 green, 1 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
PAA’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WES’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- PAA’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WES’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
PAA (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) experienced а -0.71% price change this week, while WES (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) price change was +0.45% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Oil & Gas Pipelines industry was +2.49%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.15%, and the average quarterly price growth was +30.32%.
Reported Earning Dates
PAA is expected to report earnings on Jul 31, 2026.
WES is expected to report earnings on Aug 12, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Oil & Gas Pipelines (+2.49% weekly)Oil & Gas Pipelines industry includes companies that transport natural gas and crude oil through pipelines. These companies also collect and market the fuels. The pipeline segment could be considered as a midstream operation – functioning as a link between the upstream and downstream operations in the oil and gas industry. Some of the largest U.S. pipeline players include Enterprise Products Partners L.P, TC Energy Corporation and Energy Transfer, L.P.
| PAA | WES | PAA / WES | |
| Capitalization | 15.8B | 17.6B | 90% |
| EBITDA | 2.91B | 2.41B | 121% |
| Gain YTD | 30.009 | 17.889 | 168% |
| P/E Ratio | 20.22 | 14.66 | 138% |
| Revenue | 45.3B | 4.05B | 1,119% |
| Total Cash | 171M | 647M | 26% |
| Total Debt | 11.6B | 8.71B | 133% |
PAA | WES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 75 | 91 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 5 Undervalued | 5 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 6 | 3 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 73 | 26 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 45 | 48 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 48 | 30 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
PAA's Valuation (5) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry is in the same range as WES (5) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry. This means that PAA’s stock grew similarly to WES’s over the last 12 months.
WES's Profit vs Risk Rating (3) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as PAA (6) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew similarly to PAA’s over the last 12 months.
WES's SMR Rating (26) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is somewhat better than the same rating for PAA (73) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew somewhat faster than PAA’s over the last 12 months.
PAA's Price Growth Rating (45) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry is in the same range as WES (48) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry. This means that PAA’s stock grew similarly to WES’s over the last 12 months.
WES's P/E Growth Rating (30) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as PAA (48) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew similarly to PAA’s over the last 12 months.
| PAA | WES | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 53% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 60% | 3 days ago 77% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 48% | 3 days ago 41% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 52% | 3 days ago 66% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 66% | 11 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 51% | 7 days ago 44% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 63% | 3 days ago 61% |
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PAA and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PAA has been closely correlated with PAGP. These tickers have moved in lockstep 96% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PAA jumps, then PAGP could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To PAA | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAA | 100% | -0.18% | ||
| PAGP - PAA | 96% Closely correlated | -0.04% | ||
| AM - PAA | 77% Closely correlated | +1.45% | ||
| EPD - PAA | 59% Loosely correlated | -0.08% | ||
| OKE - PAA | 58% Loosely correlated | +1.56% | ||
| TRGP - PAA | 53% Loosely correlated | +1.20% | ||
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WES and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, WES has been loosely correlated with OKE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 55% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if WES jumps, then OKE could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To WES | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WES | 100% | +1.43% | ||
| OKE - WES | 55% Loosely correlated | +1.56% | ||
| ET - WES | 53% Loosely correlated | +1.65% | ||
| TRGP - WES | 52% Loosely correlated | +1.20% | ||
| PAA - WES | 51% Loosely correlated | -0.18% | ||
| PAGP - WES | 51% Loosely correlated | -0.04% | ||
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