Financial Contrast: Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group (OTCMKTS:KWBT) versus Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO)

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group (OTCMKTS:KWBT) and Kronos Worldwide (NYSE:KRO) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

15.1% of Kronos Worldwide shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Kronos Worldwide shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group and Kronos Worldwide”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kronos Worldwide	$1.89 billion	0.38	$86.20 million	($0.36)	-17.38

Kronos Worldwide has higher revenue and earnings than Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group and Kronos Worldwide, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group	0	0	0	0	0.00
Kronos Worldwide	3	1	0	0	1.25

Kronos Worldwide has a consensus target price of $6.00, suggesting a potential downside of 4.08%. Given Kronos Worldwide’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Kronos Worldwide is more favorable than Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group.

Profitability

This table compares Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group and Kronos Worldwide’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group	N/A	N/A	N/A
Kronos Worldwide	-2.22%	-3.09%	-1.33%

About Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group

Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes bio-technological products for the agricultural market primarily in the People's Republic of China. It offers bacillus species and/or photosynthetic bacteria based biological organic, compound microbial, bio-water soluble, and microbial inoculum fertilizers. The company has a strategic cooperation agreements with the Beijing Zhongpin Agricultural Science and Technology Development Center; China Academy of Agricultural Science's Institute of Agricultural Resources & Regional Planning; and Institute of Agricultural Economy & Development, as well as Kiwa Bio-Tech (Yangling) Co. Ltd. Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Yangling, China.

About Kronos Worldwide

Kronos Worldwide, Inc. produces and markets titanium dioxide pigments (TiO2) in Europe, North America, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company produces TiO2 in two crystalline forms, rutile and anatase to impart whiteness, brightness, opacity, and durability for various products, including paints, coatings, plastics, paper, fibers, and ceramics, as well as for various specialty products, such as inks, foods, and cosmetics. It also produces ilmenite, a raw material used directly as a feedstock by sulfate-process TiO2 plants; iron-based chemicals, which are used as treatment and conditioning agents for industrial effluents and municipal wastewater, as well as in the manufacture of iron pigments, cement, and agricultural products; specialty chemicals for use in the formulation of pearlescent pigments, and production of electroceramic capacitors for cell phones and other electronic devices, as well as for use in natural gas pipe, and other specialty applications. In addition, the company provides technical services for its products. It sells its products under the KRONOS brand through agents and distributors to paint, plastics, decorative laminate, and paper manufacturers. The company was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Kronos Worldwide, Inc. is a subsidiary of Valhi, Inc.