Head-To-Head Contrast: Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) and Hf Foods Group (NASDAQ:HFFG)

Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) and Hf Foods Group (NASDAQ:HFFG) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Freshpet and Hf Foods Group”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Freshpet	$1.10 billion	2.45	$139.14 million	$2.57	21.37
Hf Foods Group	$1.23 billion	0.08	-$38.84 million	($0.73)	-2.51

Freshpet has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Hf Foods Group. Hf Foods Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Freshpet, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Freshpet and Hf Foods Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Freshpet	12.63%	6.93%	4.64%
Hf Foods Group	-3.16%	6.83%	2.74%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

24.0% of Hf Foods Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.4% of Freshpet shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.1% of Hf Foods Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

Freshpet has a beta of 1.73, indicating that its stock price is 73% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hf Foods Group has a beta of 0.53, indicating that its stock price is 47% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Freshpet and Hf Foods Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Freshpet	1	7	10	0	2.50
Hf Foods Group	1	0	2	0	2.33

Freshpet presently has a consensus price target of $76.44, indicating a potential upside of 39.18%. Hf Foods Group has a consensus price target of $5.50, indicating a potential upside of 200.55%. Given Hf Foods Group’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Hf Foods Group is more favorable than Freshpet.

Summary

Freshpet beats Hf Foods Group on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Freshpet

Freshpet, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells dog food, cat food, and dog treats under the Freshpet brand name; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online. The company was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey.

About Hf Foods Group

HF Foods Group Inc., through its subsidiaries, markets and distributes Asian specialty food, seafood, fresh produce, frozen and dry food, and non-food products to Asian and Chinese restaurants, and other foodservice customers in the United States. The company offers seafood, including lobsters, shrimp, crabs, scallops, and fish; Asian specialty food items, including noodles, rice, dried mushrooms and beans, sauces and seasonings, and spring rolls, as well as canned products, such as preserved vegetables, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts; and meat and poultry products, including beef, pork, chicken, and duck. It also provides fresh produce products, such as vegetables and fruits; commodities comprising oil, flour, sugar, and salt; and packaging and other items including take-out accessories. HF Foods Group Inc. is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.