Financial Review: Smart Sand (NASDAQ:SND) vs. MIND Technology (NASDAQ:MIND)

MIND Technology (NASDAQ:MIND) and Smart Sand (NASDAQ:SND) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, profitability and risk.

Risk & Volatility

MIND Technology has a beta of 0.4, suggesting that its share price is 60% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Smart Sand has a beta of 0.43, suggesting that its share price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

9.8% of MIND Technology shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 35.2% of Smart Sand shares are held by institutional investors. 3.3% of MIND Technology shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 33.5% of Smart Sand 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.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares MIND Technology and Smart Sand”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
MIND Technology	$40.95 million	0.74	$750,000.00	($0.26)	-12.85
Smart Sand	$330.15 million	0.46	$1.35 million	$0.26	13.77

Smart Sand has higher revenue and earnings than MIND Technology. MIND Technology is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Smart Sand, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for MIND Technology and Smart Sand, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
MIND Technology	1	0	0	0	1.00
Smart Sand	0	0	1	0	3.00

Profitability

This table compares MIND Technology and Smart Sand’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
MIND Technology	-6.77%	-5.77%	-4.85%
Smart Sand	2.71%	4.41%	3.07%

Summary

Smart Sand beats MIND Technology on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MIND Technology

MIND Technology, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides technology to the oceanographic, hydrographic, defense, seismic, and maritime security industries worldwide. Its primary products include the GunLink seismic source acquisition and control systems that provide operators of marine seismic surveys with precise monitoring and control of energy sources; the BuoyLink RGPS tracking system, which is used to offer precise positioning of marine seismic energy sources and streamers; Sleeve Gun energy sources; SeaLink towed seismic streamer system; and Sea Serpent line of passive sonar arrays for maritime security and anti-submarine warfare applications. The company also provides streamer weight collars, depth and pressure transducers, air control valves, and source array systems; spare and replacement parts; and repair and engineering services, training and field service operations, and umbilical terminations. The company was formerly known as Mitcham Industries, Inc. MIND Technology, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.

About Smart Sand

Smart Sand, Inc., an integrated frac and industrial sand supply and services company, engages in the excavation, processing, and sale of sands or proppant for use in hydraulic fracturing operations in the oil and gas industry in the United States. It also provides proppant logistics services; and wellsite storage solutions through SmartSystems products and services. The company sells its products primarily to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies, oilfield service companies, and industrial manufacturers. Smart Sand, Inc. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Spring, Texas.