Reviewing Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) and Stardust Power (NASDAQ:SDST)

Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) and Stardust Power (NASDAQ:SDST) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Rockwell Automation and Stardust Power, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Rockwell Automation	0	10	10	2	2.64
Stardust Power	1	1	1	1	2.50

Rockwell Automation presently has a consensus price target of $418.33, suggesting a potential upside of 4.94%. Stardust Power has a consensus price target of $17.25, suggesting a potential upside of 381.84%. Given Stardust Power’s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Stardust Power is more favorable than Rockwell Automation.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

75.8% of Rockwell Automation shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.8% of Stardust Power shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of Rockwell Automation shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 55.3% of Stardust Power 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.

Profitability

This table compares Rockwell Automation and Stardust Power’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Rockwell Automation	11.56%	34.92%	11.53%
Stardust Power	N/A	N/A	-185.06%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Rockwell Automation and Stardust Power”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Rockwell Automation	$8.34 billion	5.37	$869.00 million	$8.74	45.61
Stardust Power	N/A	N/A	-$23.75 million	($3.93)	-0.91

Rockwell Automation has higher revenue and earnings than Stardust Power. Stardust Power is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Rockwell Automation, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Rockwell Automation has a beta of 1.52, indicating that its stock price is 52% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Stardust Power has a beta of 0.26, indicating that its stock price is 74% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Rockwell Automation beats Stardust Power on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services. The company sells its solutions primarily through independent distributors in relation with its direct sales force. It serves discrete end markets, including automotive, semiconductor, and warehousing and logistics, as well as general industries comprising printing and publishing, marine, glass, fiber and textiles, airports, and aerospace; hybrid end markets, such as food and beverage, life sciences, household and personal care, and tire, as well as eco industrial, including water/wastewater, waste management, mass transit, and renewable energy; and process end markets comprising oil and gas, mining, metals, chemicals, pulp and paper, and others. Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

About Stardust Power

Stardust Power Inc. is a vertically-integrated lithium refinery that engages in producing battery-grade lithium. The company was founded in 2022 and is based in Greenwich, Connecticut.