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PAGP vs WES
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Plains GP Holdings (PAGP) vs. Western Midstream Partners (WES) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- PAGP has delivered stronger year-to-date (YTD) performance at approximately 29% compared to WES's 12%, highlighting superior recent momentum.
- WES provides a higher dividend yield of 8.8%, attracting income-focused investors over PAGP's 6.7%.
- Both midstream master limited partnerships (MLPs) benefit from fee-based contracts, but PAGP emphasizes crude oil transport while WES focuses on natural gas and NGLs (natural gas liquids).
- WES trades at a lower trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14 versus PAGP's 31, suggesting better value on earnings.
- PAGP exhibits lower volatility with a beta of 0.46 compared to WES's 0.70.
- Recent analyst updates and distribution announcements signal positive sentiment for both stocks in the midstream sector.
Introduction
Plains GP Holdings (PAGP) and Western Midstream Partners (WES) are prominent midstream energy master limited partnerships (MLPs) that transport and process hydrocarbons. This stock comparison is relevant for income-oriented investors seeking high dividend yields and traders monitoring relative performance in the energy sector. Both companies operate fee-based assets insulated from commodity price swings, but differences in business focus, valuation, and momentum offer trade-offs amid recent market activity. Traders can assess which aligns better with current trends in oil and natural gas demand.
PAGP Overview and Recent Performance
Plains GP Holdings, L.P. (PAGP) owns midstream infrastructure through its subsidiary Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., focusing on crude oil gathering, transportation, storage, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) fractionation across the U.S. and Canada. In recent market activity, PAGP shares have experienced a pullback from highs near $24, trading around $23.80 with elevated volume. Year-to-date gains exceed 29%, driven by solid 2025 earnings, quarterly distributions, and analyst price target increases signaling long-term growth in crude-focused operations. Sentiment has been bolstered by strategic shifts to pure-play crude midstream and positive investment narrative shifts, though profitability margins remain modest at under 1% due to high revenue volumes.
WES Overview and Recent Performance
Western Midstream Partners, LP (WES) is a midstream firm gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, and produced water, primarily in Texas, New Mexico, and the Rockies. Shares have traded steadily around $42 in recent weeks, with minor fluctuations amid broader market dips, posting YTD returns of about 12%. Performance reflects strong profitability margins over 30%, quarterly distribution hikes, and analyst coverage on valuation post-price moves. Key influences include growth projects through 2027 and resilient cash flows from fee-based contracts, supporting its appeal despite higher debt levels. Recent news highlights outperformance sessions and high-yield portfolio inclusions.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
In business models, PAGP leverages vast crude oil pipelines for high-volume, low-margin operations (revenue $44B TTM), contrasting WES’s natural gas processing emphasis yielding superior 30% profit margins on $3.8B revenue. Growth drivers include fee-based stability for both, with WES eyeing 2027 projects and PAGP refining its crude focus. Recent momentum favors PAGP’s 29% YTD surge over WES’s 12%, though WES holds steadier multi-year gains. Risk factors show PAGP’s lower beta (0.46) versus WES’s 0.70 and higher debt/equity (211% for WES). Sector exposure aligns in midstream energy, with market sentiment positive via distributions and analyst notes, balancing value (WES lower P/E) against growth potential.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI models would currently lean toward PAGP due to its consistent trend strength, superior YTD relative performance, and lower volatility amid recent midstream sector catalysts like distributions and analyst upgrades. While WES offers compelling value and yield, PAGP’s momentum positions it probabilistically stronger for near-term positioning in energy infrastructure.
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 PAGP is a StrongBuy 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).
PAGP’s FA Score shows that 3 FA rating(s) are green whileWES’s FA Score has 4 green FA rating(s).
- PAGP’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 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.
PAGP’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while WES’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- PAGP’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- WES’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
PAGP (@Oil & Gas Pipelines) experienced а -0.33% 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
PAGP 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.
| PAGP | WES | PAGP / WES | |
| Capitalization | 4.83B | 17.6B | 27% |
| EBITDA | 2.81B | 2.41B | 117% |
| Gain YTD | 32.242 | 17.889 | 180% |
| P/E Ratio | 31.26 | 14.66 | 213% |
| Revenue | 45.3B | 4.05B | 1,119% |
| Total Cash | 172M | 647M | 27% |
| Total Debt | 11.6B | 8.71B | 133% |
PAGP | WES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 75 | 91 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 9 Undervalued | 5 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 5 | 3 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 57 | 26 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 44 | 48 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 33 | 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.
WES's Valuation (5) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as PAGP (9) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew similarly to PAGP’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 PAGP (5) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew similarly to PAGP’s over the last 12 months.
WES's SMR Rating (26) in the Oil Refining Or Marketing industry is in the same range as PAGP (57) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew similarly to PAGP’s over the last 12 months.
PAGP's Price Growth Rating (44) 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 PAGP’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 PAGP (33) in the Oil And Gas Pipelines industry. This means that WES’s stock grew similarly to PAGP’s over the last 12 months.
| PAGP | WES | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 53% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 65% | 3 days ago 77% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 64% | 3 days ago 70% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 41% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 66% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 65% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 65% | 11 days ago 65% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 7 days ago 44% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 43% | 3 days ago 63% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 70% | 3 days ago 61% |
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PAGP and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, PAGP has been closely correlated with PAA. These tickers have moved in lockstep 96% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if PAGP jumps, then PAA could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To PAGP | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAGP | 100% | -0.04% | ||
| PAA - PAGP | 96% Closely correlated | -0.18% | ||
| OKE - PAGP | 59% Loosely correlated | +1.56% | ||
| EPD - PAGP | 59% Loosely correlated | -0.08% | ||
| TRGP - PAGP | 53% Loosely correlated | +1.20% | ||
| WES - PAGP | 51% Loosely correlated | +1.43% | ||
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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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