ARLP

We rate ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP (ARLP) as a Hold with a composite score of 55.9/100 at a current price of $26.29. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (95th percentile) and quality (73th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in momentum (22th percentile) and investment (32th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (52/100), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Mining sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 55.9/100 places it at rank #1162 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $3.2B in market capitalization, ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP is a mid-cap player in the Mining space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -4% combined with momentum at the 22th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 99% (+55.8pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 17% (+4.9pp vs sector) and net margins of 14.1%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 14%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $26.29, ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 69/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 10.5x (a 23% discount to the sector median of 13.7x), EV/EBITDA of 8.7x (at a premium), P/B of 1.8x, P/S of 1.5x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.31, and a stability factor in the 95th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: low beta of 0.31 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 95th percentile and quality factor at the 73th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 99% provide a buffer against cost pressures; above-average stability (95th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 10.94% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 17.5%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 59%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 10.94% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 55.9/100 (rank #1162 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (52/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 58/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.