Reviewing MasTec (NYSE:MTZ) and Vesuvius (OTCMKTS:CKSNY)

MasTec (NYSE:MTZ) and Vesuvius (OTCMKTS:CKSNY) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, risk and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares MasTec and Vesuvius’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
MasTec	3.07%	18.08%	5.97%
Vesuvius	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for MasTec and Vesuvius, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
MasTec	0	2	19	0	2.90
Vesuvius	0	0	0	0	0.00

MasTec currently has a consensus target price of $427.32, indicating a potential upside of 77.25%. Given MasTec’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe MasTec is more favorable than Vesuvius.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares MasTec and Vesuvius”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
MasTec	$14.30 billion	1.35	$399.04 million	$6.27	38.45
Vesuvius	$2.39 billion	0.55	$68.84 million	N/A	N/A

MasTec has higher revenue and earnings than Vesuvius.

Volatility & Risk

MasTec has a beta of 1.81, suggesting that its share price is 81% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vesuvius has a beta of -0.25, suggesting that its share price is 125% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

78.1% of MasTec shares are held by institutional investors. 21.4% of MasTec 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

MasTec beats Vesuvius on 12 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MasTec

MasTec, Inc., an infrastructure construction company, provides engineering, building, installation, maintenance, and upgrade services for communications, energy, utility, and other infrastructure primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through five segments: Communications, Clean Energy and Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Power Delivery, and Other. The company build infrastructure for wireless and wireline/fiber communications; clean energy infrastructure comprising renewable energy power generation; pipeline infrastructure, including natural gas, water, carbon capture sequestration, and other product transport; power delivery services, such as electrical and gas transmission, and distribution systems; industrial and heavy civil infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and rail; and water infrastructure. It also installs electrical and other gas distribution and transmission systems, power generation, power generation, civil and industrial facilities, pipelines, and fiber optic and other cables, as well as install-to-the-home services. In addition, the company offers maintenance and upgrade support services comprising maintenance of customers' distribution facilities, networks, and infrastructure, including communications, power generation, pipeline, electrical distribution and transmission, and civil and industrial and heavy civil infrastructure; service restoration for natural disasters and accidents; and routine replacements and upgrades to overhauls. Its customers include wireless and wireline/fiber service providers, broadband operators, install-to-the-home service providers, public and private energy providers, including renewable and other energy providers, pipeline operators, civil and industrial infrastructure providers, and government entities. MasTec, Inc. was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida.

About Vesuvius

Vesuvius plc is engaged in molten metal flow engineering, principally serving the steel and foundry industries. It develops and manufactures high-technology products and solutions for supply to the steel and casting industries. The Company operates through two segments: Steel and Foundry. The Steel division consists of various product lines, such as Steel Flow Control, Advanced Refractories and Technical Services. Its solution is a fully integrated robotic spray application system with a coupled mixing and laser setting system for the accurate location of the tundish furniture and mix preparation. The automatic robotic mixing and application system is fully contained and shielded with automatic shutdown if someone enters the working zone inside the tundish stand. Its technology allows robots to handle various tasks, such as manipulating steel samplers and temperature or hydrogen sensors, and to distribute powder into the tundish.