Reviewing NWPX Infrastructure (NASDAQ:NWPX) and Jewett-Cameron Trading (NASDAQ:JCTC)

Jewett-Cameron Trading (NASDAQ:JCTC) and NWPX Infrastructure (NASDAQ:NWPX) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

26.1% of Jewett-Cameron Trading shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.6% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are held by institutional investors. 1.3% of Jewett-Cameron Trading shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.3% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are held by company 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.

Profitability

This table compares Jewett-Cameron Trading and NWPX Infrastructure’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Jewett-Cameron Trading	-20.94%	-38.35%	-29.29%
NWPX Infrastructure	8.49%	12.40%	8.08%

Risk & Volatility

Jewett-Cameron Trading has a beta of 0.36, meaning that its share price is 64% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NWPX Infrastructure has a beta of 1.07, meaning that its share price is 7% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Jewett-Cameron Trading and NWPX Infrastructure”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Jewett-Cameron Trading	$41.30 million	0.23	-$4.13 million	($2.35)	-1.13
NWPX Infrastructure	$526.00 million	2.26	$35.41 million	$4.28	28.76

NWPX Infrastructure has higher revenue and earnings than Jewett-Cameron Trading. Jewett-Cameron Trading is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NWPX Infrastructure, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Jewett-Cameron Trading and NWPX Infrastructure, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Jewett-Cameron Trading	1	0	0	0	1.00
NWPX Infrastructure	0	2	2	1	2.80

NWPX Infrastructure has a consensus target price of $110.00, suggesting a potential downside of 10.63%. Given NWPX Infrastructure’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe NWPX Infrastructure is more favorable than Jewett-Cameron Trading.

Summary

NWPX Infrastructure beats Jewett-Cameron Trading on 14 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Jewett-Cameron Trading

Jewett-Cameron Trading Company Ltd. is a supplier of `Value-added` building materials to major home improvement center chains in the western United States. The Company concentrates on the residential repair and remodeling segment of the building materials industry.

About NWPX Infrastructure

Northwest Pipe Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and supply of water-related infrastructure products in North America. It operates in two segments, Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (SPP) and Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (Precast). The SPP segment offers large-diameter and high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, which are primarily related to drinking water systems. Its products are also used for hydroelectric power systems, wastewater systems, seismic resiliency, and other applications. In addition, this segment makes products for industrial plant piping systems and certain structural applications. The Precast segment provides stormwater and wastewater technology products, precast, and reinforced concrete products, including reinforced concrete pipe, manholes, box culverts, vaults and catch basins, pump lift stations, oil water separators, biofiltration units, steel casing pipes, and bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipes, as well as pipeline system joints, fittings, specialized components, and other environmental and engineered solutions. The company sells its water infrastructure products under ParkUSA, Geneva Pipe and Precast, Permalok, and Northwest Pipe Company brands primarily to installation contractors. Northwest Pipe Company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.