Comparing A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions (NASDAQ:AZ) & Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC)

A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions (NASDAQ:AZ) and Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC) are both small-cap technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, profitability and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions and Astrotech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions	-241.67%	-49.91%	-43.81%
Astrotech	-1,397.82%	-81.85%	-65.46%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

12.6% of A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.4% of Astrotech shares are owned by institutional investors. 27.9% of A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 16.8% of Astrotech shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions and Astrotech, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions	1	1	2	0	2.25
Astrotech	1	0	0	0	1.00

A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions currently has a consensus target price of $15.00, indicating a potential upside of 161.32%. Given A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions is more favorable than Astrotech.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions and Astrotech”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions	$7.90 million	32.36	-$37.74 million	($0.83)	-6.92
Astrotech	$1.05 million	14.85	-$13.85 million	($8.41)	-0.88

Astrotech has lower revenue, but higher earnings than A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions. A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Astrotech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions has a beta of 1.16, meaning that its share price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Astrotech has a beta of 4.88, meaning that its share price is 388% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions beats Astrotech on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About A2Z Cust2Mate Solutions

A2Z Smart Technologies Corp., a technology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of retail smart cart solutions for grocery stores and supermarkets in Israel and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Precision Metal Parts, Advanced Engineering, and Smart Carts. It offers Cust2Mate system, which incorporates a smart cart that automatically calculates the value of the customers purchases in their smart cart without having to unload and reload their purchases at a customer checkout point. The company also manufactures and sells precision metal parts; provides retail automation solutions; and develops Fuel Tank Inertia Capsule System technology (FTICS), a vehicle device cover for the military and civilian automotive industry. In addition, it provides maintenance services utilizing the application of advanced engineering capabilities to the military and security markets, as well as develops related products for the civilian and retail markets; container leasing services; and maintenance services for complex electronic systems and products. It serves its products to grocery stores, hardware stores, household essentials, do it yourself (DIY) retailers, discount stores, warehouse stores, convenience stores, drug stores, duty free shops, and similar outlets. The company is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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.