Ingles Markets (NASDAQ:IMKTA) and Hf Foods Group (NASDAQ:HFFG) Head-To-Head Analysis

Hf Foods Group (NASDAQ:HFFG) and Ingles Markets (NASDAQ:IMKTA) are both small-cap consumer staples companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Profitability

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

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Hf Foods Group	-2.77%	7.24%	2.77%
Ingles Markets	1.92%	6.30%	4.01%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Hf Foods Group and Ingles Markets, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Hf Foods Group	1	0	2	0	2.33
Ingles Markets	0	0	1	0	3.00

Hf Foods Group presently has a consensus price target of $5.50, suggesting a potential upside of 205.56%. Given Hf Foods Group’s higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Hf Foods Group is more favorable than Ingles Markets.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Hf Foods Group and Ingles Markets”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Hf Foods Group	$1.23 billion	0.08	-$38.84 million	($0.65)	-2.77
Ingles Markets	$5.33 billion	0.29	$83.59 million	$5.47	15.01

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

Volatility and Risk

Hf Foods Group has a beta of 0.58, indicating that its share price is 42% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ingles Markets has a beta of 0.6, indicating that its share price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

24.0% of Hf Foods Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 62.5% of Ingles Markets shares are held by institutional investors. 2.1% of Hf Foods Group shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 22.8% of Ingles Markets shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

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

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.

About Ingles Markets

Ingles Markets, Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, operates a chain of supermarkets in the southeast United States. It offers food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods, and other perishables; and non-food products, which include fuel centers, pharmacies, health and beauty care products, and general merchandise, as well as private label items. The company owns and operates a milk processing and packaging plant that supplies organic milk, fruit juices, and bottled water products to other retailers, food service distributors, and grocery warehouses. In addition, it provides home meal replacement items, delicatessens, bakeries, floral departments, and greeting cards, as well as broad selections of local organic, beverage, and health-related items. The company operates under the Ingles and Sav-Mor brand names. Ingles Markets, Incorporated was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina.