Analyzing Ceragon Networks (NASDAQ:CRNT) and MTN Group (OTCMKTS:MTNOY)

Ceragon Networks (NASDAQ:CRNT) and MTN Group (OTCMKTS:MTNOY) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Ceragon Networks and MTN Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ceragon Networks	3.57%	13.71%	6.79%
MTN Group	N/A	N/A	N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Ceragon Networks and MTN Group”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ceragon Networks	$380.52 million	0.47	$24.06 million	$0.16	12.50
MTN Group	$10.27 billion	1.42	-$523.72 million	N/A	N/A

Ceragon Networks has higher earnings, but lower revenue than MTN Group.

Risk & Volatility

Ceragon Networks has a beta of 1.08, suggesting that its share price is 8% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MTN Group has a beta of 1.25, suggesting that its share price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Ceragon Networks and MTN Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ceragon Networks	0	0	5	0	3.00
MTN Group	1	0	0	1	2.50

Ceragon Networks presently has a consensus target price of $5.30, indicating a potential upside of 165.00%. Given Ceragon Networks’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Ceragon Networks is more favorable than MTN Group.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

13.3% of Ceragon Networks shares are owned by institutional investors. 19.0% of Ceragon Networks 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.

Summary

Ceragon Networks beats MTN Group on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ceragon Networks

Ceragon Networks Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides wireless transport solutions for cellular operators and other wireless service providers in North America, Europe, Africa, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, India, and Latin America. The company's solutions use microwave and millimeter wave radio technology to transfer telecommunication traffic between base stations, small/distributed cells, and the service provider's network. It also provides IP-20 all-outdoor solutions, such as IP-20C, IP-20C-HP, IP-20S, IP-20E, and IP-20V; IP-20 split-mount, all-indoor solutions comprising IP-20N/IP-20A, IP-20F, and IP-20G; and IP-50 disaggregated solutions, including IP-50E, IP-50EX, IP-50C, IP-50CX, and IP-50FX for various short-haul, long-haul, fronthaul, small cells, routing, and enterprise access applications. In addition, the company offers network and radio planning, site surveys, solutions development, installation, network rollout, wireless transport network auditing and optimization, maintenance, training, and other services. It serves internet service providers, municipalities, government, utilities, and maritime communications broadcasters and defense, as well as oil and gas companies, public safety organizations, business and public institutions, broadcasters, energy utilities, and private communications networks. The company sells its products through direct sales, original equipment manufacturers, resellers, distributors, and system integrators. The company was formerly known as Giganet Ltd. and changed its name to Ceragon Networks Ltd. in September 2000. Ceragon Networks Ltd. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Rosh Ha'Ayin, Israel.

About MTN Group

MTN Group Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides mobile telecommunications services in South Africa, Nigeria, East Africa, West and Central Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa. The company offers data, voice and SMS, digital and fintech, interconnect, and roaming services, as well as sells mobile devices. It also provides network as a service, including subsea cables that offers international connectivity services; terrestrial and metro fiber networks; data centers and cable landing stations; and FTTx, towers, and radio access networks. The company also offers digital financial services, such as access payments, e-commerce, insurance, and lending and remittance services; enterprise services comprising manage networks, unified and cloud communication, security as a service, and Internet of Things; and API products and services for telecommunications, health, government, financial services, entertainment, and other sectors. MTN Group Limited was incorporated in 1994 and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.