Head-To-Head Analysis: NWPX Infrastructure (NASDAQ:NWPX) versus CSW Industrials (NYSE:CSW)

CSW Industrials (NYSE:CSW) and NWPX Infrastructure (NASDAQ:NWPX) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, earnings, dividends and risk.

Profitability

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

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
CSW Industrials	10.34%	17.41%	8.90%
NWPX Infrastructure	8.49%	12.22%	7.93%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

82.8% of CSW Industrials shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.6% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.2% of CSW Industrials shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.3% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares CSW Industrials and NWPX Infrastructure”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
CSW Industrials	$1.08 billion	4.41	$112.04 million	$7.29	40.16
NWPX Infrastructure	$574.44 million	1.67	$35.41 million	$4.99	19.97

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

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for CSW Industrials and NWPX Infrastructure, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
CSW Industrials	0	6	1	2	2.56
NWPX Infrastructure	0	3	1	1	2.60

CSW Industrials currently has a consensus price target of $347.57, indicating a potential upside of 18.73%. NWPX Infrastructure has a consensus price target of $110.00, indicating a potential upside of 10.36%. Given CSW Industrials’ higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe CSW Industrials is more favorable than NWPX Infrastructure.

Volatility and Risk

CSW Industrials has a beta of 0.81, indicating that its stock price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NWPX Infrastructure has a beta of 1.08, indicating that its stock price is 8% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

CSW Industrials beats NWPX Infrastructure on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CSW Industrials

CSW Industrials, Inc. operates as a diversified industrial company in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Contractor Solutions, Engineered Building Solutions, and Specialized Reliability Solutions. The Contractor Solutions segment provides condensate pads, pans, pumps, switches, and traps; cements, diffusers, grilles, registers, solvents, thread sealants, and vents; line set covers; refrigerant caps; wire pulling head tools; electrical protection, chemical maintenance, and installation supplies for HVAC; ductless mini-split systems installation support tools and accessories; and drain waste and vent system products for use in HVAC/R, plumbing, general industrial, architecturally specified building products. The Engineered Building Solutions segment offers architectural railings and associated services; fire and smoke protection solutions; and pre-engineered and custom architectural building components for use in architecturally specified building products. The Specialized Reliability Solutions segment provides compounds, lubricants, lubricant management products, and sealants; desiccant breather filtration products; and contamination control, industrial maintenance and repair, rail friction modifiers, sealants, and operations solutions for use in energy, general industrial, mining, and rail transportation. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

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.