Head to Head Survey: Vuzix (NASDAQ:VUZI) & Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:ZBRA)

Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:ZBRA) and Vuzix (NASDAQ:VUZI) are both technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and valuation.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Zebra Technologies and Vuzix”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Zebra Technologies	$5.40 billion	2.81	$419.00 million	$12.39	25.65
Vuzix	$6.28 million	24.73	-$32.27 million	($0.39)	-4.72

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

Risk and Volatility

Zebra Technologies has a beta of 1.61, suggesting that its stock price is 61% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vuzix has a beta of 1.83, suggesting that its stock price is 83% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Zebra Technologies and Vuzix’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Zebra Technologies	9.80%	23.94%	9.82%
Vuzix	-519.11%	-125.60%	-78.58%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

91.0% of Zebra Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 35.9% of Vuzix shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Zebra Technologies shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 7.3% of Vuzix shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Zebra Technologies and Vuzix, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Zebra Technologies	0	5	11	0	2.69
Vuzix	1	0	0	0	1.00

Zebra Technologies presently has a consensus target price of $388.15, indicating a potential upside of 22.13%. Given Zebra Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Zebra Technologies is more favorable than Vuzix.

Summary

Zebra Technologies beats Vuzix on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Zebra Technologies

Zebra Technologies provides digital solutions that help organizations identify, track and manage assets, people and transactions. Its products include barcode and label printers, mobile computers, barcode scanners, RFID readers and machine-vision systems, along with software and services that connect these tools to business operations. The company serves customers in industries including retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, healthcare and government. Its technology supports tasks such as inventory management, order fulfillment, asset tracking and frontline workforce operations across global markets.

About Vuzix

Vuzix Corporation develops and sells wearable display technology, smart glasses and augmented reality products. Its offerings include smart glasses for hands-free work and remote assistance, as well as optical waveguides, display engines and related components for use in its own products and by other manufacturers. The company’s products are designed for applications across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and field service. Vuzix serves customers internationally through direct sales and distribution partners.