Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) and PTL (NASDAQ:PTLE) Head to Head Review

Universal Logistics (NASDAQ:ULH) and PTL (NASDAQ:PTLE) are both small-cap transportation companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and dividends.

Risk & Volatility

Universal Logistics has a beta of 0.93, suggesting that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, PTL has a beta of -0.46, suggesting that its share price is 146% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Universal Logistics and PTL”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Universal Logistics	$1.64 billion	0.28	$129.91 million	($1.52)	-11.37
PTL	$91.42 million	0.59	-$4.98 million	N/A	N/A

Universal Logistics has higher revenue and earnings than PTL.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Universal Logistics and PTL, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Universal Logistics	1	2	0	0	1.67
PTL	1	0	0	0	1.00

Universal Logistics currently has a consensus price target of $17.00, indicating a potential downside of 1.59%. Given Universal Logistics’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Universal Logistics is more favorable than PTL.

Profitability

This table compares Universal Logistics and PTL’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Universal Logistics	-2.46%	6.49%	2.26%
PTL	N/A	N/A	N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

25.5% of Universal Logistics shares are owned by institutional investors. 73.6% of Universal Logistics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Universal Logistics beats PTL on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Universal Logistics

Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. provides transportation and logistics solutions in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Colombia. The company offers truckload services, which include dry van, flatbed, heavy-haul, and refrigerated operations; domestic and international freight forwarding, and customs brokerage services. It transports various commodities comprising automotive parts, machinery, building materials, paper, food, consumer goods, furniture, steel, and other metals. The company also provides value-added services for individual customer requirements, including material handling, consolidation, sequencing, sub-assembly, cross-dock, kitting, repacking, warehousing, and returnable container management; and intermodal support services comprising short-to-medium distance delivery of steamship and rail truck containers between the port or railhead, and the customer. It serves automotive, steel, and other metals, retail and consumer goods, energy, and manufacturing industries, as well as other transportation companies who aggregate loads from various shippers. The company was formerly known as Universal Truckload Services, Inc. and changed its name to Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. in April 2016. Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Warren, Michigan.

About PTL

PTL Limited is an established bunkering facilitator providing marine fuel logistics services for vessel refueling, primarily container ships, bulk carriers, general cargo vessels and chemical tankers principally serving the Asia Pacific market. PTL Limited is based in Hong Kong.