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Stock Comparison · Industry comparison · Oil & Gas E&P

APA vs ConocoPhillips: Which Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?

The structural profiles are close, with APA carrying a narrow edge on stability. ConocoPhillips still has the edge on stability, which keeps the comparison from looking entirely one-sided. The market setup is broadly comparable for both — no clear directional signal from price behavior. The market is not adding a decisive signal either way — the structural read carries the weight.

The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels.

Updated 2026-04-05

Stability points more clearly toward ConocoPhillips, even if the broader score still leans toward APA Corporation.

INDUSTRY COMPARISON

Both operate in: Oil & Gas E&P

This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. APA and COP share the same industry classification.

For a similarity-based comparison, see how APA and ConocoPhillips each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.

Peer-Relative Score
APA
APA Corporation
60
Peer-Score
Signal qualityHigh
vs
COP
ConocoPhillips
56
Peer-Score
Signal qualityHigh

Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.

The clearest separation appears in stability.

Dimension spread: APA vs COP Profitability 82 48 Stability 17 72 Valuation 88 74 Growth 25 24 APA COP
Gap Ranking
#1 Stability +55
#2 Profitability +34
#3 Valuation +14
#4 Growth +1
Price Setup

Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.

Price setup map for APA and COP Stronger + cheaper Stronger + richer Weaker + cheaper Weaker + richer APACOP Relative valuation Structural strength

APA Corporation and ConocoPhillips look relatively close on structure, but the price setup still leans toward APA Corporation.

Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.

Relative Position vs Comparable Companies
Stability
ConocoPhillips ranks near the top of the group on stability; APA Corporation sits in the weaker half.
Profitability
On profitability, the edge is clear — both rank well, but APA Corporation sits noticeably higher.
Stability — Dominant Gap
APA
17
COP
72
Gap+55in favour of COP

The stability gap is very wide, with the stronger side looking materially steadier through time.

What keeps the gap from being one-sided

ConocoPhillips still carries lower volatility exposure — that difference is real enough to prevent the comparison from becoming one-sided.

What this means for the comparison

Stability is the clearest driver of the lead, with profitability adding further support — though stability still provides a real counterweight.

Explore full peer positioning in AssetNext

Break down the APA vs COP comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.

Explore full breakdown →
Other comparisons with conflicting dimension signals

Explore how APA and COP each compare against other companies in their peer groups.

Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.

How AssetNext Peer Scores Work

AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.

Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.

Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.