Energous (NASDAQ:WATT) and Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) Head to Head Analysis

Energous (NASDAQ:WATT) and Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Energous and Plug Power, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Energous	0	0	0	0	0.00
Plug Power	5	7	4	0	1.94

Plug Power has a consensus target price of $1.88, indicating a potential upside of 30.61%. Given Plug Power’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Plug Power is more favorable than Energous.

Risk & Volatility

Energous has a beta of 0.62, suggesting that its stock price is 38% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Plug Power has a beta of 2.09, suggesting that its stock price is 109% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

4.4% of Energous shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 43.5% of Plug Power shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Energous shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Plug Power shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Energous and Plug Power’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Energous	-1.40%	-282.11%	-148.62%
Plug Power	-292.84%	-90.22%	-50.27%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Energous and Plug Power”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Energous	$770,000.00	14.71	-$18.40 million	($31.83)	-0.24
Plug Power	$628.81 million	2.64	-$2.10 billion	($2.31)	-0.62

Energous has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Plug Power. Plug Power is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Energous, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Plug Power beats Energous on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Energous

Energous Corporation provides wireless charging system solutions in the United States. The company develops WattUp wireless power networks technology that consists of semiconductor chipsets; software controls; hardware designs; and antennas that enables radio frequency-based charging for Internet of Things devices. Its products are used in asset trackers; sensors; retail displays; and security devices; smart home; medical; industrial; and other sensors; electronic shelf labeling; logistics and asset tracking tags and sensors; computer mice and keyboards; remote controls; gaming consoles and controllers; hearing aids; rechargeable batteries; automotive accessories; smart textiles; wearables; and medical devices. The company was formerly known as DvineWave Inc. and changed its name to Energous Corporation in January 2014. Energous Corporation was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in San Jose; California.

About Plug Power

Plug Power Inc. develops hydrogen and fuel cell product solutions in North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers GenDrive, a hydrogen-fueled proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system that provides power to material handling electric vehicles; GenSure, a stationary fuel cell solution that offers modular PEM fuel cell power to support the backup and grid-support power requirements of the telecommunications, transportation, and utility sectors; ProGen, a fuel cell stack and engine technology used in mobility and stationary fuel cell systems, and as engines in electric delivery vans; GenFuel, a liquid hydrogen fueling delivery, generation, storage, and dispensing system; GenCare, an ongoing Internet of Things-based maintenance and on-site service program for GenDrive fuel cell systems, GenSure fuel cell systems, GenFuel hydrogen storage and dispensing products, and ProGen fuel cell engines; and GenKey, an integrated turn-key solution for transitioning to fuel cell power. It also provides electrolyzers, a hydrogen generator for clean hydrogen production; liquefaction systems that provides liquid hydrogen to customers; cryogenic equipment for the distribution of liquified hydrogen, oxygen, argon, nitrogen and other cryogenic gases, including trailers and mobile storage equipment; and liquid hydrogen, an alternative fuel to fossil-based energy. The company sells its products through a direct product sales force, original equipment manufacturers, and dealer networks. Plug Power Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Latham, New York.