Frequency Electronics (NASDAQ:FEIM – Get Free Report) and Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC – Get Free Report) are both small-cap technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, earnings and dividends.
Volatility & Risk
Frequency Electronics has a beta of 0.72, meaning that its stock price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Astrotech has a beta of 4.88, meaning that its stock price is 388% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Frequency Electronics and Astrotech”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Frequency Electronics | $63.23 million | 10.73 | -$900,000.00 | ($0.09) | -674.11 |
| Astrotech | $1.01 million | 15.43 | -$13.85 million | ($8.41) | -0.88 |
Frequency Electronics has higher revenue and earnings than Astrotech. Frequency Electronics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Astrotech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Frequency Electronics and Astrotech, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Frequency Electronics | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.00 |
| Astrotech | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Frequency Electronics currently has a consensus price target of $43.67, indicating a potential downside of 28.03%. Given Frequency Electronics’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Frequency Electronics is more favorable than Astrotech.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
58.6% of Frequency Electronics shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.4% of Astrotech shares are held by institutional investors. 28.0% of Frequency Electronics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.8% of Astrotech shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Profitability
This table compares Frequency Electronics and Astrotech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Frequency Electronics | -1.43% | -1.56% | -0.98% |
| Astrotech | -1,397.82% | -81.85% | -65.46% |
Summary
Frequency Electronics beats Astrotech on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Frequency Electronics
Frequency Electronics, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in designing, development, and manufacturing of precision time and frequency control products and components for microwave integrated circuit applications. It operates through two segments, FEI-NY and FEI-Zyfer. The FEI-NY segment offers precision time and frequency control products for communication satellites, terrestrial cellular telephone or other ground-based telecommunication stations; and other components and systems for the U.S. military; and provides design and technical support for satellite business. FEI-Zyfer segment offers global positioning system technologies to systems and subsystems for secure communications, both government and commercial, and other locator applications; and engages in sale and support of wireline telecommunications products, including US5G. It markets its products directly and through independent sales representative organizations located in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Frequency Electronics, Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Mitchel Field, New York.
About Astrotech
Astrotech Corporation operates as a mass spectrometry company worldwide. It owns and licenses the intellectual property related to the Astrotech Mass Spectrometer Technology, a platform mass spectrometry technology. The company also develops TRACER 1000, a mass spectrometer-based explosive trace detector to replace the explosives trace detectors used at airports, cargo and other secured facilities, and borders. In addition, it develops AgLAB-1000, a mass spectrometer for use in the hemp and cannabis market. Further, the company develops BreathTest-1000, a breath analysis tool to screen for volatile organic compound metabolites found in a person's breath. The company was formerly known as SPACEHAB, Inc. and changed its name to Astrotech Corporation in 2009. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is based in Austin, Texas.
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