PAGP

We rate PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP (PAGP) as a Hold with a composite score of 52.8/100 at a current price of $22.02. 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 value (79th percentile) and stability (74th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (33th percentile) and quality (43th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (21/100), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: balance sheet deleveraging progress. 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.

PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 52.8/100 places it at rank #1566 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $3.5B in market capitalization, PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP is a mid-cap player in the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -10% combined with momentum at the 48th 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 9% (-46.0pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 3% (-14.2pp vs sector) and net margins of 3.4%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 37%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $22.02, PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 79/100 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. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 2.8x (a 84% discount to the sector median of 16.9x), EV/EBITDA of 2.8x (discounted to peers), P/B of 0.3x, P/S of 0.1x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: significant leverage (107% debt-to-equity) and low beta of 0.62 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (107% debt-to-equity); low beta of 0.62 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets; the combination of leverage (107% D/E) and thin margins (3.4% net) amplifies downside risk. 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 74th percentile and quality factor at the 43th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (74th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 8.17% 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 PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP's capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 11.2%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 107%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 8.17% 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, PLAINS GP HOLDINGS LP receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 52.8/100 (rank #1566 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (21/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 55/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on PLAINS GP HOLDINGS 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.