Research Frontiers (NASDAQ:REFR – Get Free Report) and Kopin (NASDAQ:KOPN – Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability.
Risk and Volatility
Research Frontiers has a beta of 0.54, meaning that its stock price is 46% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kopin has a beta of 3.47, meaning that its stock price is 247% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
11.9% of Research Frontiers shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 31.0% of Kopin shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.5% of Research Frontiers shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.8% of Kopin shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Valuation & Earnings
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Research Frontiers | $1.12 million | 16.51 | -$2.05 million | ($0.07) | -7.57 |
| Kopin | $39.32 million | 19.63 | $2.61 million | $0.01 | 422.00 |
Kopin has higher revenue and earnings than Research Frontiers. Research Frontiers is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Kopin, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Research Frontiers and Kopin’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Research Frontiers | -343.47% | -159.20% | -84.93% |
| Kopin | 5.00% | 4.85% | 2.36% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Research Frontiers and Kopin, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Research Frontiers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Kopin | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2.57 |
Kopin has a consensus target price of $7.15, indicating a potential upside of 69.43%. Given Kopin’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Kopin is more favorable than Research Frontiers.
Summary
Kopin beats Research Frontiers on 13 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Research Frontiers
Research Frontiers Incorporated engages in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light worldwide. It develops and licenses suspended particle device (SPD-Smart) light-control technology to companies that manufacture and market the SPD-Smart chemical emulsion, light-control film made from the chemical emulsion, the light-control panels made by laminating the film, and electronics to power end-products incorporating the film, as well as lamination services for and the end-products, such as windows, skylights, and sunroofs. The company's SPD-Smart light-control technology is used in various product applications, including windows, sunshades, skylights, and interior partitions for homes and buildings; automotive windows, sunroofs, sun-visors, sunshades, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels, and navigation systems; aircraft windows; museum display panels, and eyewear products; and flat panel displays for electronic products. It serves architectural, automotive, marine, and aerospace and appliance applications. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Woodbury, New York.
About Kopin
Kopin Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, invents, develops, manufactures, and sells microdisplays, subassemblies, and related components for defense, enterprise, industrial, and consumer products in the United States, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and internationally. It offers miniature active-matrix liquid crystal displays, liquid crystal on silicon displays/spatial light modulators, organic light emitting diode displays, microLED display technologies, application specific integrated circuits, backlights, and optical lenses; and head-mounted and hand-held VR products. The company’s products are used for soldier thermal weapon rifle sights, avionic fixed and rotary wing pilot helmets, armored vehicle targeting systems, and training and simulation headsets; industrial and medical headsets; 3D optical inspection systems; and consumer augmented reality and virtual reality wearable headsets systems. Kopin Corporation was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts.
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