On the stock market since 1979, it operates in the world of energy. It has 1,791 employees. Now — the numbers.
This is an established company with proven profits.
No real growth (3% a year).
The gap is $4.3B. In times of high interest rates, a gap like that can squeeze a company.
We compared this company with its own sector across five subjects.
A score of 50 means class average.
Clearly above the class average — a step short of the very top.
A solid grade overall — yet the debt outweighs the cash. The strength here comes from earnings power.
The price looks reasonable next to what the company earns.
There is growth, but not at top-of-the-class tempo.
The stock has been running stronger than the market lately.
No real weak spot in any of the five subjects — a balanced report card.
angles, checked one by one.
The 3 that stand out are on screen; the rest came back neutral.
The council scores out of 10; report-card grades are out of 100.
Revenue Growth: Sales are growing slowly.
The stock trades 16% below its peak. The market has trimmed its expectations for the company.
The net profit margin is 16% — still a thick cushion, though costs have been eating into it lately.
Over the last 12 months, company executives reported 143 buys and 110 sells. Management buying with its own money is usually read as a good sign.
It pays out $1.00 per share each year — regular cash for whoever holds the stock.
Over the last 3 years, sales fell about 7% a year on average. Profit is holding up, but a shrinking business is a risk worth watching.
The sales tempo runs behind the sector. Council score: 2/10.
On our five-subject report card, APA sits near the top of the class. A high grade doesn’t mean “guaranteed win” — it means “the evidence looks strong for now.”
The takeaway: APA is an established business that has proven its profits for years. The real debate here isn’t the price — it’s whether the company can keep up this pace.
The total grade weighs these five subjects against the sector — it isn’t a simple average of the five.