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Press Release

2025 U.S. Petroleum Industry Rankings

Dorchester Minerals Leads RealRate’s 2025 U.S. Petroleum Rankings: Equity-Rich Balance Sheets Dominate

Santa Clara, CA – RealRate has announced its 2025 ranking of the top U.S. petroleum companies based on financial strength, measured by the Economic Capital Ratio (ECR) — a transparent, explainable AI metric comparing a firm’s economic value to its total assets.

Top-Rated Companies of 2025

Dorchester Minerals, L.P. – 295%
Black Stone Minerals, L.P. – 259%
CKX Lands, Inc. – 248%

A total of 54 petroleum companies were evaluated against a market-average ECR of 123%.

The complete ranking of 54 US Petrol companies is available at: https://realrate.ai/rankings/us_petrol/2025

13 companies in this year’s rating earned RealRate’s prestigious Top-Rated Seal, recognizing outstanding financial health, resilience, and sustainable value creation.

Dorchester Minerals, L.P.

Ranked #1 with an ECR of 295%, Dorchester’s balance sheet is exemplary. With roughly $362 million in stockholders’ equity against just about $5 million in total liabilities on $367 million in assets, the partnership demonstrates a conservative capital structure and strong profitability (approximately $92 million net income).

Black Stone Minerals, L.P.

At #2 with a 259% ECR, Black Stone combines scale with discipline: about $1.129 billion in equity funds roughly 93% of its $1.219 billion asset base, leaving about $89 million in liabilities. Solid earnings (roughly $271 million net income) reinforce its equity strength.

CKX Lands, Inc.

CKX ranks #3 with a 248% ECR. Despite its small size (~$18.8 million in assets), the company carries virtually no debt — only about $0.26 million in liabilities — and approximately $18.6 million in equity. Lean operations and minimal leverage underpin its high financial strength.

CEO Dr. Holger Bartel:

“The 2025 U.S. petroleum ranking shows that financial resilience isn’t about size; it’s about structure. High equity and low liabilities are the hallmarks of sustainable strength.”

“A high ECR empowers petroleum firms to invest, navigate commodity cycles, and create long-term value. Transparency and fairness remain central to how we evaluate corporate health.”

Industry Insights

This year’s petroleum analysis covers 54 listed companies. Leaders substantially exceed the market-average ECR of 123%, reflecting equity-rich balance sheets and prudent cost control. Companies with heavier debt and higher operating costs tend to cluster below the average, highlighting the importance of disciplined capital structures in a cyclical sector.

About RealRate:

RealRate is an international rating agency based in Santa Clara and Berlin, founded in 2021. Using explainable Artificial Intelligence, we provide fair company ratings based on annually published financial reports. RealRate issues rankings across multiple industries; only the best-rated companies are awarded the RealRate Top‑Rated seal for financial excellence.