Critical Comparison: LiqTech International (NASDAQ:LIQT) versus BlastGard International (OTCMKTS:HCGS)

BlastGard International (OTCMKTS:HCGS) and LiqTech International (NASDAQ:LIQT) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares BlastGard International and LiqTech International”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
BlastGard International	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LiqTech International	$14.60 million	1.22	-$10.35 million	($1.49)	-1.24

BlastGard International has higher earnings, but lower revenue than LiqTech International.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

35.1% of LiqTech International shares are owned by institutional investors. 16.0% of BlastGard International shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.8% of LiqTech International shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

BlastGard International has a beta of -3.99, meaning that its share price is 499% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LiqTech International has a beta of 0.91, meaning that its share price is 9% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares BlastGard International and LiqTech International’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
BlastGard International	N/A	N/A	N/A
LiqTech International	-68.79%	-74.41%	-33.72%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings for BlastGard International and LiqTech International, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
BlastGard International	0	0	0	0	0.00
LiqTech International	0	0	2	0	3.00

LiqTech International has a consensus target price of $4.80, suggesting a potential upside of 159.46%. Given LiqTech International’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe LiqTech International is more favorable than BlastGard International.

Summary

LiqTech International beats BlastGard International on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BlastGard International

HighCom Global Security, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes security products and personal protective gears in the United States and internationally. The company offers ballistic helmets, hard armor plates, soft armor vests, and ballistic shields. It also provides BlastWrap, a blast mitigation technology that contains explosions and suppresses resulting flash fires. The company was formerly known as BlastGard International, Inc. and changed its name to HighCom Global Security, Inc. in June 2017. HighCom Global Security, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

About LiqTech International

LiqTech International, Inc., a clean technology company, designs, develops, produces, markets, and sells automated filtering systems, ceramic silicon carbide liquid applications, and diesel particulate air filters in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and South America. The company operates through Water, Ceramics, and Plastics segments. It also manufactures and sells silicon carbide ceramic filtration technologies for liquid and gas purification; and diesel particulate filters for exhaust emission control solutions to the verified retrofit and the original equipment manufacturer market. In addition, the company develops, manufactures, and sells liquid filtration systems, which are used for the marine scrubber systems, filtration of produced water, industrial applications, pool and spa water, food and beverage application, and silicon carbide membrane technology. Further, it provides flexible and plastics manufacturing products for machining, welding, bending, and solvent cementing. LiqTech International, Inc. sells its products primarily to industrial customers through direct sales, systems integrators, distributors, agents, and partners. The company was formerly known as Blue Moose Media, Inc. and changed its name to LiqTech International, Inc. in October 2011. LiqTech International, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Ballerup, Denmark.