Interface (NASDAQ:TILE) versus Fuel Tech (NASDAQ:FTEK) Head-To-Head Comparison

Interface (NASDAQ:TILE) and Fuel Tech (NASDAQ:FTEK) are both industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and institutional ownership.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Interface and Fuel Tech, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Interface	0	1	3	0	2.75
Fuel Tech	1	1	0	0	1.50

Interface currently has a consensus target price of $40.50, indicating a potential upside of 10.02%. Given Interface’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Interface is more favorable than Fuel Tech.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

98.3% of Interface shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 20.9% of Fuel Tech shares are held by institutional investors. 2.5% of Interface shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 9.8% of Fuel Tech shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Interface has a beta of 1.99, suggesting that its stock price is 99% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fuel Tech has a beta of 1.28, suggesting that its stock price is 28% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Interface and Fuel Tech”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Interface	$1.39 billion	1.54	$116.10 million	$2.47	14.90
Fuel Tech	$26.68 million	1.70	-$2.32 million	($0.11)	-13.18

Interface has higher revenue and earnings than Fuel Tech. Fuel Tech is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Interface, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Interface and Fuel Tech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Interface	10.10%	21.77%	11.18%
Fuel Tech	-12.75%	-8.88%	-7.62%

Summary

Interface beats Fuel Tech on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Interface

Interface, Inc. designs, produces, and sells modular carpet products primarily worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Americas (AMS), and Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia (EAAA). The company offers modular carpets under the Interface and FLOR brand names; luxury vinyl tiles; carpet tiles under the CQuestGB name for use in commercial interiors, include offices, healthcare facilities, airports, educational and other institutions, hospitality spaces, and retail facilities, as well as residential interiors; and modular resilient flooring products. It also provides carpet replacement, installation, and maintenance services; and rubber flooring under the norament and noraplan brand names; as well as produces and sells an adapted version of its carpet tile for the healthcare facilities market. In addition, the company sells a proprietary antimicrobial chemical compound under the Intersept name; sells TacTiles, a carpet tile installation system, as well as various adhesives and products; and provides turnkey project management services for global accounts and other customers through its InterfaceSERVICES business. The company sells its products directly to end-users, as well as indirectly through independent contractors, installers, or distributors. Interface, Inc. was incorporated in 1973 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

About Fuel Tech

Fuel Tech, Inc. provides boiler optimization, efficiency improvement, and air pollution reduction and control solutions to utility and industrial customers worldwide. The company operates through Air Pollution Control Technology and FUEL CHEM Technology segments. The Air Pollution Control Technology segment offers technologies to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators, furnaces, and other stationary combustion sources; NOxOUT and HERT selective non-catalytic reduction systems; selective catalytic reduction systems comprising ammonia injection grid, and graduated straightening grid systems; I-NOx systems; ESP Processes and Services; ULTRA technology; and flue gas conditioning systems. The FUEL CHEM Technology segment provides programs to improve the efficiency, reliability, fuel flexibility, boiler heat rate, and environmental status of combustion units by controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, and acid plume, as well as the formation of sulfur trioxide, ammonium bisulfate, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide through the addition of chemicals into the furnace using TIFI targeted in-furnace injection technology. This segment offers its FUEL CHEM program for plants operating in the electric utility, industrial, pulp and paper, waste-to-energy, and university and district heating markets; and the owners of boilers, furnaces, and other combustion units. Fuel Tech, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois.