Acorn Energy (NASDAQ:ACFN – Get Free Report) and LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ:LPTH – Get Free Report) are both small-cap technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.
Profitability
This table compares Acorn Energy and LightPath Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Acorn Energy | 16.12% | 10.06% | 6.32% |
| LightPath Technologies | -28.65% | -9.44% | -4.68% |
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Acorn Energy and LightPath Technologies”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Acorn Energy | $11.48 million | 4.72 | $2.51 million | $0.61 | 35.43 |
| LightPath Technologies | $71.72 million | 8.05 | -$14.87 million | ($0.50) | -18.40 |
Acorn Energy has higher earnings, but lower revenue than LightPath Technologies. LightPath Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Acorn Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Risk & Volatility
Acorn Energy has a beta of 0.24, suggesting that its stock price is 76% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LightPath Technologies has a beta of 1.39, suggesting that its stock price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings for Acorn Energy and LightPath Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Acorn Energy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| LightPath Technologies | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2.83 |
LightPath Technologies has a consensus target price of $14.10, suggesting a potential upside of 53.26%. Given LightPath Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe LightPath Technologies is more favorable than Acorn Energy.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
56.3% of LightPath Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. 35.6% of Acorn Energy shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 24.8% of LightPath Technologies shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Summary
LightPath Technologies beats Acorn Energy on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Acorn Energy
Acorn Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops and markets wireless remote monitoring and control systems for various markets in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Power Generation (PG) Monitoring and Cathodic Protection (CP) Monitoring. The PG segment provides wireless remote monitoring and control systems, and services for critical assets, which include stand-by power generators, compressors, pumps, pumpjacks, light towers, turbines, and other industrial equipment; and Internet of Things applications. The CP segment offers remote monitoring of cathodic protection systems on gas pipelines for gas utilities and pipeline companies. The company was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.
About LightPath Technologies
LightPath Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes optical components and assemblies. The company offers precision molded glass aspheric optics, molded and diamond-turned infrared aspheric lenses, and other optical components used to produce products that manipulate light; and infrared products, including catalog and custom infrared optics. Its products are used in defense products, medical devices, laser aided industrial tools, automotive safety applications, barcode scanners, optical data storage, hybrid fiber coax datacom, telecommunications, machine vision and sensors, and other sectors. The company sells its products directly to customers in Europe and Asia. LightPath Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
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