Critical Analysis: Solar Thin Films (OTCMKTS:SLTZ) versus FTC Solar (NASDAQ:FTCI)

Solar Thin Films (OTCMKTS:SLTZ) and FTC Solar (NASDAQ:FTCI) are both energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Solar Thin Films and FTC Solar’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Solar Thin Films	N/A	N/A	N/A
FTC Solar	-73.04%	-262.78%	-55.79%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Solar Thin Films and FTC Solar, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Solar Thin Films	0	0	0	0	0.00
FTC Solar	1	2	1	0	2.00

FTC Solar has a consensus target price of $4.25, indicating a potential downside of 43.56%. Given Solar Thin Films’ higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Solar Thin Films is more favorable than FTC Solar.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

45.4% of FTC Solar shares are held by institutional investors. 12.0% of Solar Thin Films shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 21.0% of FTC Solar shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Solar Thin Films and FTC Solar”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Solar Thin Films	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
FTC Solar	$47.35 million	2.37	-$48.61 million	($3.92)	-1.92

Solar Thin Films has higher earnings, but lower revenue than FTC Solar.

Summary

FTC Solar beats Solar Thin Films on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Solar Thin Films

Solar Thin Films, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and installs thin-film amorphous silicon photovoltaic manufacturing equipment used in plants that produce photovoltaic thin-film a-Si solar panels or modules. The company serves businesses and investment partnerships engaged in the production of photovoltaic thin-film modules; and corporations and governments involved in the construction of solar power plants principally in the United States, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and Asia. Solar Thin Films, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is based in New York, New York.

About FTC Solar

FTC Solar, Inc. engages in the provision of solar tracker systems, software, and engineering services in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, and Australia. The company offers a self-powered, two-panel in-portrait, and single-axis tracker solution under the Voyager brand name; and a one module-in-portrait solar tracker solution under the Pioneer brand name. Its customers include project developers and solar asset owners, as well as engineering, procurement, and construction contractors that design and build solar energy projects. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.