Reviewing Viper Networks (OTCMKTS:VPER) & Heritage Global (NASDAQ:HGBL)

Viper Networks (OTCMKTS:VPER) and Heritage Global (NASDAQ:HGBL) are both small-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, earnings, dividends, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Viper Networks and Heritage Global’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Viper Networks	N/A	N/A	N/A
Heritage Global	20.60%	23.50%	16.22%

Volatility and Risk

Viper Networks has a beta of -0.97, indicating that its share price is 197% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Heritage Global has a beta of 1.29, indicating that its share price is 29% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

33.5% of Heritage Global shares are held by institutional investors. 12.0% of Heritage Global shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Viper Networks and Heritage Global, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Viper Networks	0	0	0	0	N/A
Heritage Global	0	0	2	0	3.00

Heritage Global has a consensus target price of $5.25, suggesting a potential upside of 100.38%. Given Heritage Global’s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Heritage Global is more favorable than Viper Networks.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Viper Networks and Heritage Global’s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Viper Networks	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Heritage Global	$60.55 million	1.61	$12.48 million	$0.33	7.94

Heritage Global has higher revenue and earnings than Viper Networks.

Summary

Heritage Global beats Viper Networks on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Viper Networks

Viper Networks, Inc. manufactures and distributes LED lighting products. The company provides CyberGrab; Vnet, a communication application; Viper unified communications platform for carriers and providers; VRoom; parking lot lightings system; and solar power and telecom systems, as well as intelligent lighting solutions with camera, sensor, and wireless technologies. Its products are used in street, roadway, security, parking lot, and billboard lighting. Viper Networks, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Troy, Michigan.

About Heritage Global

Heritage Global Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an asset services company with focus on financial and industrial asset transactions. The company operates in three segments: Auction and Liquidation, Refurbishment & Resale, and Brokerage. It provides a suite of market making, acquisitions, refurbishment, dispositions, valuations, and secured lending services. The company focuses on identifying, valuing, acquiring, and monetizing underlying tangible assets. It acts as an adviser, as well as a principal, acquiring, or brokering manufacturing facilities; surplus industrial machinery and equipment; industrial inventories; and charged-off receivable portfolios. The company was formerly known as Counsel RB Capital Inc. and changed its name to Heritage Global, Inc. in August 2013. Heritage Global, Inc. was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.