Analyzing BWX Technologies (NYSE:BWXT) and Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC)

BWX Technologies (NYSE:BWXT) and Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC) are both aerospace companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares BWX Technologies and Astrotech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
BWX Technologies	10.28%	30.61%	10.77%
Astrotech	-1,536.99%	-46.37%	-42.51%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares BWX Technologies and Astrotech”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
BWX Technologies	$2.70 billion	5.92	$281.94 million	$3.20	54.73
Astrotech	$1.66 million	5.23	-$11.67 million	($8.42)	-0.61

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

Institutional and Insider Ownership

94.4% of BWX Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.4% of Astrotech shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of BWX Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 14.9% of Astrotech shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

BWX Technologies has a beta of 0.75, meaning that its share price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Astrotech has a beta of 0.34, meaning that its share price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

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

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
BWX Technologies	1	3	5	2	2.73
Astrotech	0	0	0	0	0.00

BWX Technologies currently has a consensus price target of $160.83, suggesting a potential downside of 8.17%. Given BWX Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe BWX Technologies is more favorable than Astrotech.

Summary

BWX Technologies beats Astrotech on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BWX Technologies

BWX Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells nuclear components in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Government Operations and Commercial Operations. The Government Operations segment designs and manufactures naval nuclear components, reactors, and nuclear fuel; fabrication activities; and supplies proprietary and sole-source valves, manifolds, and fittings to naval and commercial shipping customers. This segment also involved in manufacture of close-tolerance and equipment for nuclear applications; down blend government stockpiles of uranium; receives, stores, characterizes, dissolves, recovers, and purifies uranium-bearing materials; and supplies research reactor fuel elements for colleges, universities, and national laboratories, as well as components for defense applications. The Commercial Operations segment designs and manufactures commercial nuclear steam generators, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and reactor components; and other auxiliary equipment, including containers for the storage of nuclear fuel and other high-level nuclear waste. This segment also offers nuclear fuel, fuel handling systems, tooling delivery systems, nuclear grade materials, and precisely machined components, and related services for CANDU nuclear power plants; provides in-plant inspection, maintenance, and modification services, as well as non-destructive examination and tooling/repair solutions; and manufactures medical radioisotopes, radiopharmaceuticals, and medical devices. The company was formerly known as The Babcock & Wilcox Company and changed its name to BWX Technologies, Inc. in June 2015. BWX Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia.

About Astrotech

Astrotech Corporation operates as a mass spectrometry company worldwide. It owns and licenses the intellectual property related to the Astrotech Mass Spectrometer Technology, a platform mass spectrometry technology. The company also develops TRACER 1000, a mass spectrometer-based explosive trace detector to replace the explosives trace detectors used at airports, cargo and other secured facilities, and borders. In addition, it develops AgLAB-1000, a mass spectrometer for use in the hemp and cannabis market. Further, the company develops BreathTest-1000, a breath analysis tool to screen for volatile organic compound metabolites found in a person's breath. The company was formerly known as SPACEHAB, Inc. and changed its name to Astrotech Corporation in 2009. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is based in Austin, Texas.