NWPX Infrastructure (NASDAQ:NWPX) vs. Techprecision (NASDAQ:TPCS) Critical Comparison

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

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for NWPX Infrastructure and Techprecision, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
NWPX Infrastructure	0	3	0	0	2.00
Techprecision	0	0	0	0	0.00

NWPX Infrastructure currently has a consensus price target of $57.50, suggesting a potential upside of 11.39%. Given NWPX Infrastructure’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe NWPX Infrastructure is more favorable than Techprecision.

Profitability

This table compares NWPX Infrastructure and Techprecision’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
NWPX Infrastructure	6.69%	8.93%	5.61%
Techprecision	-5.64%	-22.22%	-5.68%

Volatility and Risk

NWPX Infrastructure has a beta of 0.91, meaning that its stock price is 9% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Techprecision has a beta of 0.19, meaning that its stock price is 81% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

80.6% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 15.5% of Techprecision shares are held by institutional investors. 3.2% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 15.4% of Techprecision shares are held by 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.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares NWPX Infrastructure and Techprecision”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
NWPX Infrastructure	$492.55 million	1.01	$34.21 million	$3.32	15.55
Techprecision	$34.03 million	1.60	-$2.75 million	($0.19)	-28.84

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

Summary

NWPX Infrastructure beats Techprecision on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

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.

About Techprecision

TechPrecision Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells precision, fabricated, and machined metal structural components and systems in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Ranor and Stadco. It provides custom components for ships, submarines, military helicopters, aerospace equipment, components for nuclear power plants, and components for medical systems. The company also provides support services to its manufacturing capabilities comprising manufacturing engineering, quality control, materials procurement, production control, and final assembly. Its finished products are used various markets, including defense, aerospace, nuclear, medical, and precision industrial. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Westminster, Massachusetts.