Comparing FTC Solar (NASDAQ:FTCI) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI)

FTC Solar (NASDAQ:FTCI) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for FTC Solar and Ascent Solar Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
FTC Solar	0	3	2	0	2.40
Ascent Solar Technologies	0	0	0	0	0.00

FTC Solar presently has a consensus price target of $8.13, suggesting a potential upside of 157.12%. Given FTC Solar’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe FTC Solar is more favorable than Ascent Solar Technologies.

Volatility & Risk

FTC Solar has a beta of 1.22, suggesting that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 2.43, suggesting that its stock price is 143% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

45.4% of FTC Solar shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. 22.6% of FTC Solar shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares FTC Solar and Ascent Solar Technologies”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
FTC Solar	$57.35 million	0.71	-$50.29 million	($3.80)	-0.83
Ascent Solar Technologies	$460,000.00	5.62	-$17.07 million	N/A	N/A

Ascent Solar Technologies has lower revenue, but higher earnings than FTC Solar.

Profitability

This table compares FTC Solar and Ascent Solar Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
FTC Solar	-82.90%	-98.67%	-44.11%
Ascent Solar Technologies	-28,235.93%	-1,360.73%	-157.70%

Summary

FTC Solar beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About FTC Solar

FTC Solar, Inc. engages in the provision of solar tracker systems, software, and engineering services in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, and Australia. The company offers a self-powered, two-panel in-portrait, and single-axis tracker solution under the Voyager brand name; and a one module-in-portrait solar tracker solution under the Pioneer brand name. Its customers include project developers and solar asset owners, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction contractors that design and build solar energy projects. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

About Ascent Solar Technologies

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar technology company, engages in the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar modules in the United States. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. It serves agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.