SGS (OTCMKTS:SGSOY) and BrightView (NYSE:BV) Critical Contrast

SGS (OTCMKTS:SGSOY) and BrightView (NYSE:BV) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares SGS and BrightView”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
SGS	$7.72 billion	3.02	$659.96 million	N/A	N/A
BrightView	$2.67 billion	0.47	$56.00 million	$0.04	334.38

SGS has higher revenue and earnings than BrightView.

Volatility & Risk

SGS has a beta of 0.74, meaning that its stock price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BrightView has a beta of 1.28, meaning that its stock price is 28% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares SGS and BrightView’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
SGS	N/A	N/A	N/A
BrightView	2.10%	8.43%	3.21%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for SGS and BrightView, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
SGS	1	2	1	3	2.86
BrightView	1	3	2	2	2.63

BrightView has a consensus price target of $14.70, suggesting a potential upside of 9.91%. Given BrightView’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe BrightView is more favorable than SGS.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

92.4% of BrightView shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.8% of BrightView shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

BrightView beats SGS on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SGS

SGS SA provides inspection, testing, and verification services in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Connectivity & Products, Health & Nutrition, Industries & Environment, Natural Resources, and Business Assurance. The company provides laboratory testing, product inspection and consulting, process assessment, technical and transactional assistance; and automotive, connectivity, softlines and accessories, and hardgoods, toys, and juvenile products, as well as government and trade facilitation services. In addition, it offers a range of testing, inspection and certification solutions for the crop science, food, health science, and cosmetics and hygiene industries; field services, technical assessment, and advisory services; and services related to industrial, public health and safety, environmental testing, and public mandates. Further, it provides assessment, auditing, and certification, supply chain assurance, training, consulting, and sustainability assurance services; agricultural commodities, geochemistry, laboratory testing petroleum and chemicals, metallurgy and consulting, mineral and metal commodities, and oil, gas, and chemical commodities; and sustainability solutions. The company serves the agriculture and food, chemical, construction, consumer and retail, energy, industrial manufacturing, life sciences, mining, oil and gas, public, and transportation sectors. SGS SA was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

About BrightView

BrightView Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides commercial landscaping services in the United States. It operates through two segments, Maintenance Services and Development Services. The Maintenance Services segment delivers a suite of recurring commercial landscaping services, including mowing, gardening, mulching and snow removal, water management, irrigation maintenance, tree care, golf course maintenance, and specialty turf maintenance. Its customers' properties include corporate and commercial properties, homeowners associations, public parks, hotels and resorts, airport authorities, municipalities, hospitals and other healthcare facilities, educational institutions, restaurants and retail, and golf courses. This segment's customer base includes approximately 8,800 office parks and corporate campuses 7,100 residential communities, and 550 educational institutions. The Development Services segment offers landscape architecture and development services for new facilities and redesign projects. Its services include project design and management services, landscape architecture and installation, irrigation installation, tree moving and installation, pool and water features, sports field, and other services. BrightView Holdings, Inc. also operates as official field consultant to various league baseball. The company was founded in 1939 and is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania.