Contrasting Saker Aviation Services (OTCMKTS:SKAS) & Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK)

Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK) and Saker Aviation Services (OTCMKTS:SKAS) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, risk and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Alaska Air Group and Saker Aviation Services”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Alaska Air Group	$14.76 billion	0.35	$100.00 million	($1.57)	-29.22
Saker Aviation Services	$1.27 million	4.49	-$1.09 million	($0.56)	-10.09

Alaska Air Group has higher revenue and earnings than Saker Aviation Services. Alaska Air Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Saker Aviation Services, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Alaska Air Group has a beta of 1.29, indicating that its stock price is 29% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Saker Aviation Services has a beta of 0.01, indicating that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Alaska Air Group and Saker Aviation Services’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Alaska Air Group	-1.19%	-3.11%	-0.59%
Saker Aviation Services	N/A	-6.37%	-6.12%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Alaska Air Group and Saker Aviation Services, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Alaska Air Group	2	1	11	0	2.64
Saker Aviation Services	0	0	0	0	0.00

Alaska Air Group presently has a consensus target price of $65.65, indicating a potential upside of 43.11%. Given Alaska Air Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Alaska Air Group is more favorable than Saker Aviation Services.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

81.9% of Alaska Air Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 37.3% of Saker Aviation Services shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.0% of Alaska Air Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 34.6% of Saker Aviation Services shares are owned 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.

Summary

Alaska Air Group beats Saker Aviation Services on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Alaska Air Group

Alaska Air Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates airlines. It operates through three segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The company offers scheduled air transportation services on Boeing jet aircraft for passengers and cargo in the United States, and in parts of Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and the Bahamas; and for passengers across a shorter distance network within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Alaska Air Group, Inc. was founded in 1932 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

About Saker Aviation Services

Saker Aviation Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the aviation services segment of the general aviation industry in the United States. It serves as the operator of a Downtown Manhattan (New York) Heliport. The company was formerly known as FirstFlight, Inc. and changed its name to Saker Aviation Services, Inc. in September 2009. Saker Aviation Services, Inc. is headquartered in New York, New York.