Flowserve (NYSE:FLS – Get Free Report) and Ascent Industries (NASDAQ:ACNT – Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Flowserve and Ascent Industries”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Flowserve | $4.56 billion | 1.54 | $282.76 million | $2.21 | 24.28 |
| Ascent Industries | $177.87 million | 0.67 | -$13.60 million | ($0.29) | -43.72 |
Insider and Institutional Ownership
93.9% of Flowserve shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.1% of Ascent Industries shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of Flowserve shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.3% of Ascent Industries shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Flowserve and Ascent Industries, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Flowserve | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3.00 |
| Ascent Industries | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Flowserve currently has a consensus price target of $65.78, indicating a potential upside of 22.56%. Given Flowserve’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Flowserve is more favorable than Ascent Industries.
Risk and Volatility
Flowserve has a beta of 1.29, indicating that its stock price is 29% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Industries has a beta of 0.71, indicating that its stock price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Flowserve and Ascent Industries’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Flowserve | 6.28% | 18.25% | 7.12% |
| Ascent Industries | -2.51% | -2.52% | -1.63% |
Summary
Flowserve beats Ascent Industries on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Flowserve
Flowserve Corporation designs, manufactures, distributes, and services industrial flow management equipment in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through Flowserve Pump Division (FPD) and Flow Control Division (FCD) segments. The FPD segment offers custom and pre-configured pumps and pump systems, mechanical seals, auxiliary systems, replacement parts, upgrades, and related aftermarket services; and equipment services, including installation and commissioning services, seal systems spare parts, repairs, advanced diagnostics, re-rate and upgrade solutions, retrofit programs, and machining and asset management solutions, as well as manufactures a gas-lubricated mechanical seal for use in high-speed compressors for gas pipelines and in the oil and gas production and process markets. The FCD segment provides engineered and industrial valve and automation systems, including isolation and control valves, actuation, controls, and related equipment; and equipment maintenance services for flow control systems, including advanced diagnostics, repair, installation, commissioning, retrofit programs, and field machining capabilities. This segment's products are used to control, direct, and manage the flow of liquids, gases, and multi-phase fluids. It primarily serves oil and gas, chemical and pharmaceuticals, power generation, and water management markets, as well as general industries, including mining and ore processing, pulp and paper, food and beverage, and other smaller applications. The company distributes its products through direct sales, distributors, and sales representatives. Flowserve Corporation was founded in 1790 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
About Ascent Industries
Ascent Industries Co. an industrials company, produces and distributes stainless steel pipe and tube and specialty chemicals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Tubular Products and Specialty Chemicals. It manufactures welded pipes and tubes, primarily from stainless steel, duplex, and nickel alloys; and ornamental stainless steel tubes for automotive, commercial transportation, marine, food services, construction, furniture, healthcare, and other industries. The company also produces defoamers, surfactants, and lubricating agents for end users, including companies that supply agrochemical paper, metal working, coatings, water treatment, paint, mining, oil and gas, and janitorial and other applications. In addition, it provides contract manufacturing services, as well as operates as a multi-purpose plant to process various difficult to handle materials, including flammable solvents, viscous liquids, and granular solids. The company was formerly known as Synalloy Corporation and changed its name to Ascent Industries Co. in August 2022. Ascent Industries Co. was founded in 1945 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.
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