Acorn Energy (OTCMKTS:ACFN – Get Free Report) and BIO-key International (NASDAQ:BKYI – Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and risk.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Acorn Energy and BIO-key International”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Acorn Energy | $12.63 million | 3.51 | $6.29 million | $2.65 | 6.69 |
| BIO-key International | $6.93 million | 1.13 | -$4.30 million | ($1.04) | -0.70 |
Profitability
This table compares Acorn Energy and BIO-key International’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Acorn Energy | 56.00% | 78.08% | 28.31% |
| BIO-key International | -70.23% | -73.33% | -43.89% |
Institutional and Insider Ownership
26.5% of BIO-key International shares are owned by institutional investors. 35.1% of Acorn Energy shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.7% of BIO-key International shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings for Acorn Energy and BIO-key International, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Acorn Energy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| BIO-key International | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Risk & Volatility
Acorn Energy has a beta of 0.1, suggesting that its stock price is 90% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BIO-key International has a beta of 0.37, suggesting that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Acorn Energy beats BIO-key International on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Acorn Energy
Acorn Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops and markets wireless remote monitoring and control systems for various markets in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Power Generation (PG) Monitoring and Cathodic Protection (CP) Monitoring. The PG segment provides wireless remote monitoring and control systems, and services for critical assets, which include stand-by power generators, pumps, pumpjacks, light towers, turbines, compressors, fire pumps, and other industrial equipment; and Internet of Things applications. The CP segment offers remote monitoring and control products for cathodic protection systems utilized in gas pipelines for gas utilities market and pipeline operators. The company was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.
About BIO-key International
BIO-key International, Inc. develops and markets fingerprint identification biometric technology and software solutions, and enterprise-ready identity access management solutions for commercial, government, and education customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers BIO-key PortalGuard and PortalGuard IDaaS solutions, a customer-controlled and neutral-by-design cloud-based identity platform that allows customers to integrate with any cloud or on-premises SaaS application, as well as windows device authentication through IAM platform. Its solutions enable its customers to secure their workforces and student populations; and make their partner networks more collaborative. In addition, it provides BIO-key VST and WEB-key products; and Civil and Large-Scale ID Infrastructure solutions that develops finger-based biometric technology. Further, it offers finger scanners for enterprise and consumer markets under SideSwipe, EcoID, and SidePass brand names. The company was formerly known as SAC Technologies and changed its name to BIO-key International, Inc. in 2002. BIO-key International, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Wall, New Jersey.
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