Calix (NYSE:CALX) & Aviat Networks (NASDAQ:AVNW) Critical Review

Aviat Networks (NASDAQ:AVNW) and Calix (NYSE:CALX) are both technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability and valuation.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Aviat Networks and Calix, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Aviat Networks	2	0	8	0	2.60
Calix	0	2	5	0	2.71

Aviat Networks presently has a consensus price target of $32.71, indicating a potential upside of 62.19%. Calix has a consensus price target of $57.40, indicating a potential upside of 56.19%. Given Aviat Networks’ higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Aviat Networks is more favorable than Calix.

Profitability

This table compares Aviat Networks and Calix’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Aviat Networks	0.58%	5.85%	2.49%
Calix	4.61%	6.17%	4.90%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

78.6% of Aviat Networks shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.1% of Calix shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.7% of Aviat Networks shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 17.4% of Calix shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Aviat Networks and Calix”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Aviat Networks	$439.68 million	0.59	$2.54 million	$0.19	106.16
Calix	$1.00 billion	2.31	$17.88 million	$0.74	49.66

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

Volatility & Risk

Aviat Networks has a beta of 0.68, indicating that its share price is 32% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Calix has a beta of 1.32, indicating that its share price is 32% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Calix beats Aviat Networks on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Aviat Networks

Aviat Networks, Inc. provides microwave networking and wireless access networking solutions in North America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers outdoor, indoor, and split-mount radios; microwave routers, switches, and trunking; and private LTE, virtual fiber, and element management products; and hosted software products, such as aviat design, frequency assurance software, and health assurance software. It also provides project services, which includes design and engineering, site and path surveys, assembly and integrations, project management, and install and commission; and managed services, such as network and interface monitoring, network health, onsite maintenance, and remote upgrades. In addition, the company offers support services, including extended warranty, warranty plus, provision support, and license key management, as well as instructor and virtual instructor led training, e-learning and certification services. It serves communications service providers and private network operators, including federal, state and local government agencies, transportation agencies, energy and utility companies, public safety agencies, and broadcast network operators. The company markets its products through a direct sales, service, and support organization; indirect sales channels comprising dealers, resellers, and sales representatives; and through online. Aviat Networks, Inc. company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

About Calix

Calix, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of cloud and software platforms, and systems and services in the United States, rest of Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. Its cloud and software platforms, and systems and services enable broadband service providers (BSPs) to provide a range of services. The company provides Calix Cloud platform, a role-based analytics platform comprising Calix Engagement Cloud, Calix Service Cloud, and Calix Operations Cloud, which are configurable to display role-based insights and enable BSPs to anticipate and target new revenue-generating services and applications through mobile application, such as CommandIQ for residents and CommandWorx for businesses; Calix Intelligent Access EDGE, an access network solution for automated and intelligent networks; and Calix Revenue EDGE, a premises solution for subscriber managed services. It also offers SmartLife managed services, including SmartHome managed services and applications to enhance, operate and secure the connected experience of subscribers in their home; SmartTown managed services that reimagine community Wi-Fi as a ubiquitous, secure, and managed experience across a BSP's footprint; and SmartBiz managed services that address the business networking and productivity needs of business owners with an all-in-one managed service. In addition, the company provides Wi-Fi systems under GigaSpire and GigaPro brands to be ready for deployment as a complete subscriber experience solution for BSP's residential and business subscribers. It offers its products through its direct sales force and resellers. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.