Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI – Get Free Report) and Canadian Solar (NASDAQ:CSIQ – Get Free Report) are both small-cap energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 52.4% of Canadian Solar shares are held by institutional investors. 10.2% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 21.5% of Canadian Solar shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares Ascent Solar Technologies and Canadian Solar’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | N/A | -239.69% | -111.53% |
| Canadian Solar | 0.27% | -5.28% | -1.44% |
Earnings and Valuation
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | $40,000.00 | 600.42 | -$9.13 million | ($2.92) | -1.81 |
| Canadian Solar | $5.99 billion | 0.26 | $36.05 million | ($0.36) | -65.22 |
Canadian Solar has higher revenue and earnings than Ascent Solar Technologies. Canadian Solar is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ascent Solar Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Ascent Solar Technologies and Canadian Solar, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Canadian Solar | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1.73 |
Canadian Solar has a consensus target price of $19.85, indicating a potential downside of 15.46%. Given Canadian Solar’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Canadian Solar is more favorable than Ascent Solar Technologies.
Volatility and Risk
Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 1.18, indicating that its stock price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Canadian Solar has a beta of 1.26, indicating that its stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Canadian Solar beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
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.
About Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides solar energy and battery energy storage products and solutions in in Asia, the Americas, Europe, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, CSI Solar and Recurrent Energy. The CSI Solar segment designs, develops, and manufactures solar ingots, wafers, cells, modules, and other solar power and battery storage products. It offers standard solar modules and battery storage solutions; solar system kits, such as inverters, racking systems, and other accessories; power electronic products; and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, as well as operates battery energy storage projects. The Recurrent Energy segment engages in the development, construction, maintenance, and sale of solar power and battery storage projects; and operation of solar power plants; and sale of electricity. This segment provides operation and maintenance (O&M) services, including monitoring, inspections, repair, and replacement of plant equipment; and site management and administrative support services for solar projects, as well as asset management services. It has a fleet of solar and battery energy storage plants in operation with an aggregate capacity of approximately 1,005 MWp and 600 MWh. It serves distributors, system integrators, project developers, and installers/EPC companies, as well as utility companies or grid operators, public utilities, licensed suppliers, corporate offtakers, and commercial, industrial or government end users. It sells its products primarily under its Canadian Solar brand name. Canadian Solar Inc. was incorporated in 2001 and is based in Guelph, Canada.
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