B Communications (OTCMKTS:BCOMF) and VEON (NASDAQ:VEON) Financial Survey

B Communications (OTCMKTS:BCOMF) and VEON (NASDAQ:VEON) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, risk, institutional ownership and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares B Communications and VEON’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
B Communications	1.16%	14.92%	2.83%
VEON	23.75%	72.76%	12.22%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares B Communications and VEON”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
B Communications	$2.40 billion	0.31	$29.19 million	$0.28	25.89
VEON	$4.15 billion	0.93	$415.00 million	$8.80	5.95

VEON has higher revenue and earnings than B Communications. VEON is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than B Communications, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

B Communications has a beta of 1.2, indicating that its stock price is 20% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, VEON has a beta of 1.58, indicating that its stock price is 58% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

21.3% of VEON shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for B Communications and VEON, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
B Communications	0	0	0	0	0.00
VEON	0	2	1	1	2.75

VEON has a consensus target price of $60.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.61%. Given VEON’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe VEON is more favorable than B Communications.

Summary

VEON beats B Communications on 13 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About B Communications

B Communications Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications services for business and private customers in Israel. It operates through Interior Landline Communication, Cellular Communication, Bezeq International Services, and Multi-Channel TV segments. The company offers landline interior communications, including telephony, internet services and infrastructure, transmission and data communication, and wholesale services; and cellular radio-telephone services. It is also involved in the installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and systems in the field of cellular communications; distribution of television and radio broadcasts; and marketing of equipment. In addition, the company provides international communication, network endpoint, and ICT solutions; and digital multi-channel TV broadcasting services to subscriptions over satellite and over the internet, as well as value-added services to subscribers. The company was formerly known as 012 Smile. Communications Ltd. and changed its name to B Communications Ltd. in March 2010. B Communications Ltd was incorporated in 1999 and is based in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel.

About VEON

VEON Ltd., a digital operator, provides connectivity and internet services in Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It offers mobile telecommunications services, including value added and call completion, national and international roaming, wireless Internet access, mobile financial, and mobile bundle services; data connectivity, cross border transit, voice, Internet, and data services; fixed-line telecommunications using intercity fiber optic networks; and Internet-TV using Fiber to the building technology. The company also sells equipment, infrastructure, and accessories. VEON Ltd. was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.