Comparing Ascent Solar Technologies (OTCMKTS:ASTI) & SMA Solar Technology (OTCMKTS:SMTGF)

Ascent Solar Technologies (OTCMKTS:ASTI) and SMA Solar Technology (OTCMKTS:SMTGF) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Ascent Solar Technologies and SMA Solar Technology’s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ascent Solar Technologies	$244,531.00	12.01	-$19.75 million	($0.89)	-0.05
SMA Solar Technology	N/A	N/A	N/A	($2.91)	-27.49

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

Profitability

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

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ascent Solar Technologies	-9,484.43%	-7,017.74%	-167.64%
SMA Solar Technology	N/A	N/A	N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

19.9% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 12.9% of SMA Solar Technology shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Ascent Solar Technologies and SMA Solar Technology, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ascent Solar Technologies	0	0	0	0	N/A
SMA Solar Technology	0	2	1	0	2.33

Summary

Ascent Solar Technologies beats SMA Solar Technology on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ascent Solar Technologies

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells copper-indium-gallium-diselenide photovoltaic products for agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles applications. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.

About SMA Solar Technology

SMA Solar Technology AG, together with its subsidiaries, engages in development, production, and sale of PV and battery inverters, transformers, chokes, monitoring systems for PV systems, and charging solutions for electric vehicles in Germany and internationally. It operates through Home Solutions, Commercial and Industrial Solutions, and Large Scale and Project Solutions segments. The company offers string and central solar inverters for various module types; battery inverters for high voltage batteries, on- and off- grid applications, commercial and industrial storage solutions, large scale storage solutions, and accessories; medium-voltage technology products; and DC-DC converters. It also provides E-mobility charging solutions; monitoring and control solutions for PV systems; and energy data services, as well as digital solutions to design, operate, and service PV systems and energy systems. The company was formerly known as SMA Technologie AG and changed its name to SMA Solar Technology AG in June 2008. SMA Solar Technology AG was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Niestetal, Germany.