Comparing Perma-Fix Environmental Services (NASDAQ:PESI) and Universal Detection Technology (OTCMKTS:UNDT)

Perma-Fix Environmental Services (NASDAQ:PESI) and Universal Detection Technology (OTCMKTS:UNDT) are both industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Perma-Fix Environmental Services and Universal Detection Technology’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Perma-Fix Environmental Services	-31.25%	-21.73%	-13.38%
Universal Detection Technology	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Perma-Fix Environmental Services and Universal Detection Technology, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Perma-Fix Environmental Services	1	0	0	0	1.00
Universal Detection Technology	0	0	0	0	0.00

Given Universal Detection Technology’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Universal Detection Technology is more favorable than Perma-Fix Environmental Services.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

25.5% of Perma-Fix Environmental Services shares are held by institutional investors. 8.9% of Perma-Fix Environmental Services shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.6% of Universal Detection Technology shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Perma-Fix Environmental Services and Universal Detection Technology”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Perma-Fix Environmental Services	$60.66 million	3.79	-$19.98 million	($0.66)	-18.79
Universal Detection Technology	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Universal Detection Technology has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Perma-Fix Environmental Services.

Summary

Universal Detection Technology beats Perma-Fix Environmental Services on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Perma-Fix Environmental Services

Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an environmental and technology know-how company in the United States. The company through Treatment and Services segments. The Treatment segment offers nuclear, low-level radioactive, mixed waste, hazardous and non-hazardous waste treatment, and processing and disposal services through treatment and storage facilities. This segment is also involved in the research and development activities to identify, develop, and implement waste processing techniques for problematic waste streams. The Services segment provides technical services, including professional radiological measurement and site survey of government and commercial installations; health physics services; integrated occupational safety and health services; and consulting, engineering, project and waste management, environmental, decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) field, technical and management personnel and services; and waste management services. This segment also offers nuclear services, including D&D of government and commercial facilities, including engineering, technology applications, specialty services, logistics, transportation, processing, and disposal; and license termination support, such as project management, planning, characterization, waste stream identification and delineation, remediation/demolition, compliance demonstration, final status survey, reporting, transportation, disposal and emergency response. In addition, it maintains, services, maintains, calibrates, and sources health physics, IH and customized nuclear, environmental, and occupational safety and health instruments. The company provides its services to research institutions, commercial companies, public utilities, and governmental agencies through direct sales to customers or through intermediaries. Perma-Fix Environmental Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

About Universal Detection Technology

Universal Detection Technology engages in the research, development, marketing, and resale of detection devices for detecting chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats in the United States, Europe, and Asia. It supplies bioterrorism detection kits capable of detecting anthrax, ricin, botulinum, plague, and SEBs; mold detection kits; chemical detection equipment; and radiation detection systems. The company also provides various counter-terrorism services, such as training courses for first responders; event security; threat evaluation and consulting; and DVDs aimed at providing information and training regarding combating terrorism and managing emergency situations. It serves first responders, as well as bioterror and military defense markets. The company markets and sells its products through in-house staff and outside consultants, as well as through the Internet. The company was formerly known as Pollution Research and Control Corporation and changed its name to Universal Detection Technology in August 2003. Universal Detection Technology was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.