MPLX vs USAC Stock Comparison
Compare MPLX and USAC across AIQ Score, fundamentals, valuation, momentum, risk, analyst expectations and current market evidence.
What is the main difference between MPLX and USAC?
MPLX leads the current stock comparison as MPLX Lp, with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
MPLX Lp vs USA Compression Partners, LP
MPLX leads
MPLX leads by 4 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Risk Resilience, having only recently taken the lead back from USAC. Wall Street currently favors USAC on target upside.
Fragile: 4 of 6 evidence groups support MPLX, the lead recently changed hands, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
MPLX Lp
USA Compression Partners, LP
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors MPLX over USAC, 57 versus 53 as of Sep 11, 2026. MPLX's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and risk resilience, while USAC holds the stronger momentum profile. MPLX also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average, though analyst target upside currently favors USAC. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MPLX today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. MPLX lead: Reversed — USAC led by 6 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; MPLX now leads by 4.
Compare MPLX Lp and USA Compression Partners, LP across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Price-return comparison using available daily close history.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000
Based on available close-price history. Distribution reinvestment is not added unless already reflected in the source series.
Compare MPLX and USAC against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Value44 vs 28MPLX +16
- Risk Resilience53 vs 44MPLX +9
- Momentum73 vs 79USAC +6
- Quality59 vs 60Even
4 of 6 evidence groups favor MPLX. MPLX’s edge is concentrated in value and risk resilience; USAC keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-10, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-09.
Largest factor move: Momentum -6
No new signals fired.
Largest factor move: Momentum +6
New signals
- RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
MPLX's lead narrowed by 4 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — MPLX and USAC both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
MPLX (MPLX Lp): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and risk resilience.
USAC (USA Compression Partners, LP): the counter-case, on momentum, analyst expectations.
The AIQ Score and Wall Street therefore point in different directions on this pair.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
MPLXMPLX on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
MPLXMPLX on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
MPLXMPLX on the peer-relative Value factor, by 16 points.
Momentum
USACUSAC on the Momentum factor, by 6 points.
Lower downside
MPLXMPLX on Risk Resilience, by 9 points.
Analyst upside
USACUSAC on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
The model and the Street disagree here: AIQ favors MPLX, analyst targets favor USAC. That disagreement is the most useful thing on this page.
| Measure | MPLX | USAC | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +3.8% | +8.5% | USAC has more room |
| Target dispersion | +12.9% | +6.7% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 5 | 2 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
The two are measuring different things. The AIQ Score reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; analyst targets price forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something already priced in — it is worth resolving before acting on either.
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MPLX. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | MPLX | 57 vs 53 |
| Fundamentals | MPLXon balance | revenue growth 15.7% vs 3.3%; EPS growth 16.5% vs 14.8%; TTM ROE 33.4% vs 141.2%; gross margin 52.2% vs 44.7%; operating margin 42.9% vs 30.1% — MPLX takes 4 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | MPLX | Value 44 vs 28 |
| Technicals | Even | Price vs 50-day 2.4% vs 4%; vs 200-day 5.5% vs 4.8% |
| Risk Resilience | MPLX | Risk Resilience 53 vs 44 |
| Analyst expectations | USAC | Target upside 3.8% vs 8.5% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of MPLX and USAC and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has swung materially session to session. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on MPLX.
How the comparison changed
119 daily snapshots · May 4 – Sep 10MPLX lead: Reversed — USAC led by 6 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; MPLX now leads by 4.
- Today
- MPLX +4
- 57 vs 53
- 7 sessions ago
- MPLX +7
- 56 vs 49
- 30 sessions ago
- USAC +6
- 54 vs 60
- 90 sessions ago
- MPLX +3
- 57 vs 54
The lead changed hands 4 times in this window, most recently on Sep 2 when MPLX moved ahead of USAC.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
5 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (3.34%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
4 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (0.26%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- RSI Overbought — bearish, momentum, short horizon
USAC is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price is up while the AIQ Score moved down 2 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price +0.35%, AIQ -2 points).
Price is down while the AIQ Score moved up 2 points over the same session — price and model disagree (price -0.47%, AIQ +2 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1USAC closes the Value gap — currently 16 points behind, the largest single contributor to MPLX's edge.
- 2USAC's RSI Overbought resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it.
- 3MPLX's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
MPLX leads on balance| Metric | MPLX | USAC |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 15.7% | 3.3% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 16.5% | 14.8% |
| Gross margin | 52.2% | 44.7% |
| Operating margin | 42.9% | 30.1% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 33.4% | 141.2% |
| Debt to equity | 1.85 | 10.3 |
Performance
Split across windows| Metric | MPLX | USAC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -0.5% | 4.8% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 5.7% | 0.2% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 1.4% | 1.2% |
| Year to date | 11.7% | 20.7% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 18.9% | 18.9% |
Technicals
Split| Metric | MPLX | USAC |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 63.4 | 74.7 |
| ADX (14) | 19.4 | 19.7 |
| Price vs 50-day | 2.4% | 4% |
| Price vs 200-day | 5.5% | 4.8% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 12.7% | 16.8% |
Risk
MPLX is the more resilient| Metric | MPLX | USAC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.03 | 0.13 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.89 | 0.63 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.31 | 0.99 |
| Max drawdown | -8.7% | -18.1% |
| Current drawdown | -1.4% | -8.3% |
| Annualized volatility | 17.1% | 28.4% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -1.9% | -2.8% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, MPLX or USAC?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, MPLX is the stronger of the two as of Sep 11, 2026, scoring 57 against USAC's 53. The edge comes from value and risk resilience. USAC is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is MPLX or USAC the better buy right now?
MPLX carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 11, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 4 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor MPLX over USAC?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MPLX leads Value by 16 points; MPLX leads Risk Resilience by 9 points; USAC leads Momentum by 6 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, MPLX or USAC?
Analyst price targets imply +3.8% upside for MPLX and +8.5% for USAC, so the Street currently favors USAC. That points the opposite way to the AIQ Score, which favors MPLX. The two are measuring different things: the model reads current fundamentals, valuation, trend and risk; the Street is pricing forward expectations. A divergence of this kind is either a contrarian opportunity or a sign the model is missing something the analysts have already priced — it is the single most useful row on this page to investigate. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, MPLX or USAC?
MPLX is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. MPLX on the peer-relative Value factor, by 16 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, MPLX or USAC?
MPLX on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, MPLX or USAC?
USAC on the Momentum factor, by 6 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, MPLX or USAC?
MPLX is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MPLX on Risk Resilience, by 9 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is MPLX more profitable than USAC?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 52.2% vs 44.7%; operating margin 42.9% vs 30.1%; ttm roe 33.4% vs 141.2%. MPLX leads on two measures and USAC on one measure, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is MPLX's lead over USAC getting stronger or weaker?
MPLX lead: Reversed — USAC led by 6 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; MPLX now leads by 4. This is measured from 119 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-05-04 and 2026-09-10. The lead has changed hands 4 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-02, when MPLX moved ahead of USAC.
What would change the MPLX vs USAC verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: USAC closes the Value gap — currently 16 points behind, the largest single contributor to MPLX's edge; USAC's RSI Overbought resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it; MPLX's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about MPLX and USAC?
MPLX: 5 bullish / 0 bearish / 1 neutral. USAC: 4 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on MPLX is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On USAC it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare MPLX and USAC with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.