Montrose Environmental Group (NYSE:ONT – Get Free Report) and Aqua Metals (NASDAQ:AQMS – Get Free Report) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability and earnings.
Profitability
This table compares Montrose Environmental Group and Aqua Metals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Montrose Environmental Group | 0.71% | 5.55% | 2.58% |
| Aqua Metals | N/A | -252.04% | -157.49% |
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Montrose Environmental Group and Aqua Metals, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Montrose Environmental Group | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Aqua Metals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Montrose Environmental Group and Aqua Metals”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Montrose Environmental Group | $830.54 million | 0.71 | -$840,000.00 | $0.05 | 325.20 |
| Aqua Metals | $30,000.00 | 539.35 | -$22.65 million | ($30.53) | -0.16 |
Montrose Environmental Group has higher revenue and earnings than Aqua Metals. Aqua Metals is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Montrose Environmental Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
87.9% of Montrose Environmental Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 22.0% of Aqua Metals shares are held by institutional investors. 10.4% of Montrose Environmental Group shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 8.3% of Aqua Metals shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Risk & Volatility
Montrose Environmental Group has a beta of 1.83, indicating that its share price is 83% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Aqua Metals has a beta of 0.3, indicating that its share price is 70% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Montrose Environmental Group beats Aqua Metals on 13 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Montrose Environmental Group
Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. operates as an environmental services company in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Assessment, Permitting and Response; Measurement and Analysis; and Remediation and Reuse. The Assessment, Permitting and Response segment provides scientific advisory and consulting services to support environmental assessments; environmental emergency response and recovery; toxicology consulting and environmental audits and permits for current operations; facility upgrades; new projects; decommissioning projects; and development projects. This segment also offers technical advisory and consulting services, including regulatory compliance support and planning, environmental, ecosystem and toxicological assessments, and support during responses to environmental disruptions. The Measurement and Analysis segment tests and analyzes air, water, and soil to determine concentrations of contaminants, as well as the toxicological impact of contaminants on flora, fauna, and human health. Its services include source and ambient air testing and monitoring, leak detection, and advanced analytical laboratory services, such as storm water, wastewater, and drinking water analysis. The Remediation and Reuse segment provides engineering, design, implementation, and operations and maintenance services primarily to treat contaminated water, remove contaminants from soil, or create biogas from waste. The company serves financial, oil and gas, utilities, construction, automotive, real-estate, midstream energy, manufacturing, commodities, petrochemical, food and beverage, telecommunications, and engineering industries, as well as local, state, provincial, and federal government entities. Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
About Aqua Metals
Aqua Metals, Inc. engages in reinventing metals recycling activities with its patented AquaRefining technology. The company's technology produces metals and alloys that can be returned into the battery manufacturing supply chain markets, as well as sells metals for use in various advanced manufacturing industries. Its AquaRefining, a low-emissions and recycling technology that replaces polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries. Aqua Metals, Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada.
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