Analyzing Spectris (OTCMKTS:SEPJY) and Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELFB)

Spectris (OTCMKTS:SEPJY) and Bel Fuse (NASDAQ:BELFB) are both mid-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Spectris and Bel Fuse”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Spectris	$1.66 billion	3.05	$298.52 million	N/A	N/A
Bel Fuse	$675.46 million	4.28	$61.54 million	$4.91	46.49

Spectris has higher revenue and earnings than Bel Fuse.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

58.4% of Bel Fuse shares are held by institutional investors. 5.4% of Bel Fuse shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Spectris has a beta of 0.3, suggesting that its share price is 70% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Bel Fuse has a beta of 1.56, suggesting that its share price is 56% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Spectris and Bel Fuse’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Spectris	N/A	N/A	N/A
Bel Fuse	9.11%	14.80%	6.40%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Spectris and Bel Fuse, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Spectris	0	1	0	0	2.00
Bel Fuse	0	2	4	0	2.67

Bel Fuse has a consensus target price of $216.50, indicating a potential downside of 5.16%. Given Bel Fuse’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Bel Fuse is more favorable than Spectris.

Dividends

Spectris pays an annual dividend of $0.29 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.1%. Bel Fuse pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.1%. Bel Fuse pays out 5.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Summary

Bel Fuse beats Spectris on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Spectris

Spectris plc provides precision measurement solutions worldwide. It operates through Spectris Scientific, Spectris Dynamics, and Other segments. The Spectris Scientific segment provides advanced sensors and instruments used to measure, analyze, and characterize materials; and monitor ultra-clean manufacturing environments. Spectris Dynamics segment offers differentiated sensing, data acquisition, analysis modelling, and simulation solutions for product development and enhance product performance. The Other segment operates high-value precision in-line sensing and monitoring businesses. It serves life sciences/pharmaceuticals, technology-led industrials, automotive, electronics and semiconductor, academic research, and other markets, as well as metals, minerals, and mining. The company was formerly known as Fairey Group plc and changed its name to Spectris plc in May 2001. Spectris plc was incorporated in 1986 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.

About Bel Fuse

Bel Fuse Inc. designs, manufactures, markets, and sells products that power, protect, and connect electronic circuits. The company’s products are used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, military, commercial aerospace, transportation, and e-Mobility industries. It provides power solutions and protection products, including front-end power supplies, board-mount power products, industrial and transportation power products, external power products, and circuit protection products. The company also offers connectivity solutions, such as expanded beam fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies, and active optical devices; copper-based connectors/cable assemblies; radio frequency connectors, cable assemblies, microwave devices, and low loss cables; and ethernet, I/O, and industrial and power connectivity products. In addition, it provides magnetic solutions comprising integrated connector modules, power transformers, SMD power inductors and SMPS transformers, and ethernet discrete components. The company sells its products through direct strategic account managers, regional sales managers working with independent sales representative organizations, and authorized distributors in the United States, the People’s Republic of China, Macao, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Germany, India, Switzerland, and internationally. Bel Fuse Inc. was incorporated in 1949 and is headquartered in West Orange, New Jersey.