Analyzing Matthews International (NASDAQ:MATW) and EpicQuest Education Group International (NASDAQ:EEIQ)

Matthews International (NASDAQ:MATW) and EpicQuest Education Group International (NASDAQ:EEIQ) are both small-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Matthews International and EpicQuest Education Group International’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Matthews International	-2.65%	4.51%	1.45%
EpicQuest Education Group International	N/A	N/A	N/A

Volatility & Risk

Matthews International has a beta of 1.09, indicating that its share price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, EpicQuest Education Group International has a beta of -0.68, indicating that its share price is 168% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Matthews International and EpicQuest Education Group International, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Matthews International	2	1	0	0	1.33
EpicQuest Education Group International	1	0	0	0	1.00

Matthews International currently has a consensus price target of $24.00, suggesting a potential upside of 12.83%. Given Matthews International’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Matthews International is more favorable than EpicQuest Education Group International.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

83.1% of Matthews International shares are held by institutional investors. 4.7% of Matthews International shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 20.6% of EpicQuest Education Group International shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Matthews International and EpicQuest Education Group International”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Matthews International	$1.50 billion	0.44	-$24.47 million	($0.93)	-22.87
EpicQuest Education Group International	$8.94 million	0.51	-$2.43 million	N/A	N/A

EpicQuest Education Group International has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Matthews International.

Summary

Matthews International beats EpicQuest Education Group International on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Matthews International

Matthews International Corporation provides brand solutions, memorialization products, and industrial technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: Memorialization, Industrial Technologies, and SGK Brand Solutions. The Memorialization segment provides bronze and granite memorials, upright granite memorials and monuments, concrete burial vaults, cremation memorialization products, granite benches, flower vases, crypt plates and letters, cremation urns, niche units, cemetery features, and statues, as well as bronze plaques, letters, emblems, vases, lights and photo ceramics, granite monuments, mausoleums, crypts, and flush memorials. The Industrial Technologies segment designs, manufactures, services, and distributes high-tech custom energy storage solutions, and product identification and warehouse automation technologies and solutions, including order fulfillment systems for identifying, tracking, picking, and conveying consumer and industrial products. This segment also provides engineered calendaring, laminating, and coating equipment; stand-alone marking products; laser and ink-jet printing systems; and spare parts, calendar, and coating-roller refurbishing and retrofits. The SGK Brand solutions segment provides brand management, pre-media services, printing plates and cylinders, imaging services, digital asset management, merchandising display systems, and marketing and design services for the consumer goods and retail industries. The company was founded in 1850 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

About EpicQuest Education Group International

EpicQuest Education Group International Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides education solutions for students interested in college and university programs in the United States and internationally. The company offers English proficiency educational programming and transfer pathways for students pursuing academic degrees; and operates a career-training college. It also operates and manages the U.S. coordination projects and services during and after studying abroad, including student dormitory management, academic guidance, international student services, student catering services, student transfer application services, internship and employment guidance, lawyer services, medical services, and student entrepreneurship services. In addition, the company acts as a recruiting agent for the University of the West of Scotland and Coventry University; offers educational programs related to kinesiology and recreation education; and organizes sports-related entertainment projects. The company was formerly known as Elite Education Group International Limited and changed its name to EpicQuest Education Group International Limited in August 2022. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Middletown, Ohio.