Comparing FTC Solar (NASDAQ:FTCI) & Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI)

Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI) and FTC Solar (NASDAQ:FTCI) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Ascent Solar Technologies and FTC Solar”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ascent Solar Technologies	$460,000.00	6.05	-$17.07 million	N/A	N/A
FTC Solar	$127.00 million	0.33	-$50.29 million	($3.80)	-0.87

Ascent Solar Technologies has higher earnings, but lower revenue than FTC Solar.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.4% of FTC Solar shares are held by institutional investors. 0.3% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 22.6% of FTC Solar shares are held by company 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 and Volatility

Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 2.43, meaning that its share price is 143% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, FTC Solar has a beta of 1.22, meaning that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Ascent Solar Technologies and FTC Solar, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ascent Solar Technologies	0	0	0	0	0.00
FTC Solar	0	3	2	0	2.40

FTC Solar has a consensus price target of $8.13, suggesting a potential upside of 146.96%. Given FTC Solar’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe FTC Solar is more favorable than Ascent Solar Technologies.

Profitability

This table compares Ascent Solar Technologies and FTC Solar’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ascent Solar Technologies	-28,235.93%	-1,360.73%	-157.70%
FTC Solar	-82.90%	-98.67%	-44.11%

Summary

FTC Solar beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ascent Solar Technologies

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar technology company, engages in the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar modules in the United States. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. It serves agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.

About FTC Solar

FTC Solar, Inc. engages in the provision of solar tracker systems, software, and engineering services in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, and Australia. The company offers a self-powered, two-panel in-portrait, and single-axis tracker solution under the Voyager brand name; and a one module-in-portrait solar tracker solution under the Pioneer brand name. Its customers include project developers and solar asset owners, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction contractors that design and build solar energy projects. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.