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Empire Petroleum Corp. (EP) Stock Fundamental Analysis & AI Rating 2026

EP NYSE Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas DE CIK: 0000887396
Updated This Month • Analysis: Mar 24, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
Combined AI Rating
STRONG SELL
95% Confidence
STRONG AGREEMENT
STRONG SELL
95% Conf
STRONG SELL
95% Conf

📊 EP Key Takeaways

Revenue: $34.2M
Net Margin: -210.7%
Free Cash Flow: $-4.1M
Current Ratio: 0.34x
Debt/Equity: N/A
EPS: $-2.12
AI Rating: STRONG SELL with 95% confidence
Empire Petroleum Corp. (EP) receives a STRONG SELL rating with 95% confidence from our AI fundamental analysis based on SEC 10-K filings. With revenue of $34.2M, net profit margin of -210.7%, Empire Petroleum Corp. demonstrates mixed fundamentals in the Energy sector. Below is our complete EP stock analysis for 2026.

Is Empire Petroleum Corp. (EP) a Good Investment?

Claude

Empire Petroleum is in severe financial distress with negative stockholders' equity of -$4.6M, indicating liabilities exceed assets. The company is experiencing massive operating losses (-$71.3M) on declining revenue (-21.6% YoY), with negative free cash flow (-$4.1M) and critically weak liquidity (0.34x current ratio). Without immediate operational turnaround or capital restructuring, the company faces potential insolvency.

ChatGPT

Empire Petroleum’s fundamentals are severely impaired: revenue is declining, operating and net margins are deeply negative, and the company is consuming cash rather than generating it. Financial health is especially weak, with negative equity, sub-1.0 liquidity ratios, and limited cash relative to liabilities, which raises substantial solvency and refinancing risk. Unless profitability and balance sheet strength improve materially, the business quality appears poor.

Why Buy Empire Petroleum Corp. Stock? EP Key Strengths

Claude
  • + Minimal capital expenditure requirements ($179.5K) suggest asset-light operations
  • + 5 insider filings in last 90 days indicate some management engagement
  • + Cash position of $1.2M provides short-term operational runway
ChatGPT
  • + Revenue base remains meaningful at $34.20M despite a difficult year
  • + Capital expenditure remains low, which limits additional cash strain from investment spending
  • + Operating cash burn is modest relative to the scale of reported accounting losses, suggesting some non-cash loss components

EP Stock Risks: Empire Petroleum Corp. Investment Risks

Claude
  • ! Negative stockholders' equity creates technical insolvency condition
  • ! Operating losses of -$71.3M with -208.5% operating margin indicate core business dysfunction
  • ! Revenue declining 21.6% YoY with negative operating cash flow signals deteriorating operational performance
  • ! Current ratio of 0.34x indicates severe liquidity crisis - liabilities due within 12 months exceed current assets by 66%
  • ! Negative free cash flow (-$4.1M) means company cannot sustain operations or service debt from operations
  • ! Long-term debt of $15.2M represents 1,267% of available cash reserves
ChatGPT
  • ! Negative stockholders’ equity indicates balance sheet stress and elevated solvency risk
  • ! Current ratio of 0.34x and cash of $1.19M versus total liabilities of $70.48M signal weak liquidity
  • ! Revenue fell 21.6% YoY while operating margin was -208.5%, showing poor growth quality and severe profitability deterioration

Key Metrics to Watch

Claude
  • * Operating cash flow trend - must return positive to avoid liquidity crisis
  • * Revenue stabilization - current 21.6% YoY decline is unsustainable
  • * Debt restructuring announcements - highly likely given negative equity position
  • * Total liabilities trajectory - currently exceed assets by $4.6M
ChatGPT
  • * Operating cash flow and free cash flow trend
  • * Liquidity improvement, especially cash balance and current ratio

Empire Petroleum Corp. (EP) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios

Revenue
$34.2M
Net Income
$-72.1M
EPS (Diluted)
$-2.12
Free Cash Flow
$-4.1M
Total Assets
$65.9M
Cash Position
$1.2M

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.

EP Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin -208.5%
Net Margin -210.7%
ROE N/A
ROA -109.4%
FCF Margin -12.1%

EP vs Energy Sector: How Empire Petroleum Corp. Compares

How Empire Petroleum Corp. compares to Energy sector averages

Net Margin
EP -210.7%
vs
Sector Avg 12.0%
EP Sector
ROE
EP 0.0%
vs
Sector Avg 14.0%
EP Sector
Current Ratio
EP 0.3x
vs
Sector Avg 1.3x
EP Sector
Debt/Equity
EP 0.0x
vs
Sector Avg 0.6x
EP Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

Is Empire Petroleum Corp. Stock Overvalued? EP Valuation Analysis 2026

Based on fundamental analysis, Empire Petroleum Corp. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Energy sector in 2026.

Return on Equity
N/A
Sector avg: 14%
Net Profit Margin
-210.7%
Sector avg: 12%
Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Debt/Equity
N/A
Sector avg: 0.6x

Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.

Empire Petroleum Corp. Balance Sheet: EP Debt, Cash & Liquidity

Current Ratio
0.34x
Quick Ratio
0.28x
Debt/Equity
N/A
Debt/Assets
107.0%
Interest Coverage
-278.48x
Long-term Debt
$15.2M

EP Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend

EP 5-year financial data: Year 2022: Revenue $53.2M, Net Income -$18.6M, EPS $-1.27. Year 2023: Revenue $53.2M, Net Income $7.1M, EPS $0.30. Year 2024: Revenue $44.0M, Net Income -$12.5M, EPS $-0.55.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Empire Petroleum Corp.'s revenue has declined by 17% over the 5-year period, indicating business contraction. The most recent EPS of $-0.54 indicates the company is currently unprofitable.

EP Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
-12.1%
Free cash flow / Revenue

EP Quarterly Earnings & Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Empire Petroleum Corp. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q2 2025 $8.7M -$4.0M $-0.15
Q1 2025 $9.0M -$4.0M $-0.12
Q3 2024 $10.3M -$2.5M $-0.12
Q2 2024 $9.8M -$2.5M $-0.11
Q1 2024 $10.1M -$2.5M $-0.11
Q3 2023 $10.3M $215.9K $0.01
Q2 2023 $9.8M -$2.5M $-0.11
Q1 2023 $10.1M -$2.5M $-0.11

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

Empire Petroleum Corp. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
-$3.9M
Cash generated from operations
Capital Expenditures
$179.5K
Investment in assets
Dividends
None
No dividend program

EP SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Empire Petroleum Corp. (CIK: 0000887396)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Apr 2, 2026 4 xslF345X06/ownership.xml View →
Apr 2, 2026 4 xslF345X06/ownership.xml View →
Mar 19, 2026 8-K emp_8k-19044.htm View →
Mar 18, 2026 8-K emp_8k-19043.htm View →
Mar 16, 2026 8-K emp_8k-19042.htm View →

Frequently Asked Questions about EP

What is the AI rating for EP?

Empire Petroleum Corp. (EP) has a Combined AI Rating of STRONG SELL from Claude (STRONG SELL) and ChatGPT (STRONG SELL) with 95% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are EP's key strengths?

Claude: Minimal capital expenditure requirements ($179.5K) suggest asset-light operations. 5 insider filings in last 90 days indicate some management engagement. ChatGPT: Revenue base remains meaningful at $34.20M despite a difficult year. Capital expenditure remains low, which limits additional cash strain from investment spending.

What are the risks of investing in EP?

Claude: Negative stockholders' equity creates technical insolvency condition. Operating losses of -$71.3M with -208.5% operating margin indicate core business dysfunction. ChatGPT: Negative stockholders’ equity indicates balance sheet stress and elevated solvency risk. Current ratio of 0.34x and cash of $1.19M versus total liabilities of $70.48M signal weak liquidity.

What is EP's revenue and growth?

Empire Petroleum Corp. reported revenue of $34.2M.

Does EP pay dividends?

Empire Petroleum Corp. does not currently pay dividends.

Where can I find EP SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Empire Petroleum Corp. (CIK: 0000887396) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is EP's EPS?

Empire Petroleum Corp. has a diluted EPS of $-2.12.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.

Is EP a good stock to buy right now?

Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Empire Petroleum Corp. has a STRONG SELL rating with 95% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.

Is EP stock overvalued or undervalued?

Valuation metrics for EP: ROE of N/A (sector avg: 14%), net margin of -210.7% (sector avg: 12%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.

Should I buy EP stock in 2026?

Our dual AI analysis gives Empire Petroleum Corp. a combined STRONG SELL rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.

What is EP's free cash flow?

Empire Petroleum Corp.'s operating cash flow is $-3.9M, with capital expenditures of $179.5K. FCF margin is -12.1%.

How does EP compare to other Energy stocks?

Vs Energy sector averages: Net margin -210.7% (avg: 12%), ROE N/A (avg: 14%), current ratio 0.34 (avg: 1.3).

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Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Mar 24, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI