Head-To-Head Survey: Air Liquide (OTCMKTS:AIQUY) versus Brenntag (OTCMKTS:BNTGY)

Air Liquide (OTCMKTS:AIQUY) and Brenntag (OTCMKTS:BNTGY) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Air Liquide and Brenntag’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Air Liquide	N/A	N/A	N/A
Brenntag	2.62%	9.19%	3.69%

Risk & Volatility

Air Liquide has a beta of 0.88, suggesting that its stock price is 12% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Brenntag has a beta of 0.85, suggesting that its stock price is 15% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Air Liquide and Brenntag, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Air Liquide	0	3	1	1	2.60
Brenntag	2	6	0	0	1.75

Brenntag has a consensus target price of $12.80, suggesting a potential upside of 9.68%. Given Brenntag’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Brenntag is more favorable than Air Liquide.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.0% of Air Liquide shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Air Liquide pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.2%. Brenntag pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. Brenntag pays out 43.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Air Liquide and Brenntag”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Air Liquide	$29.28 billion	3.94	$3.58 billion	N/A	N/A
Brenntag	$17.57 billion	0.48	$580.22 million	$0.64	18.23

Air Liquide has higher revenue and earnings than Brenntag.

Summary

Air Liquide beats Brenntag on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Air Liquide

L'Air Liquide S.A. provides gases, technologies, and services for the industrial and health sectors in Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates in Gas & Services, Engineering & Construction, and Global Markets & Technologies segments. The Gas & Services segment comprises large industries business, which offers gas and energy solutions including oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide, as well as operates cogeneration plants to supply steam and electricity to metals, chemicals, refining, and energy industries; and industrial merchant business line provides industrial gases, equipment, hardgoods, and associated services to materials and energy, automotive and manufacturing, food and pharmaceuticals, technology and research, and craftsmen and retail sectors. This segment also includes healthcare business, which provides medical gases, home healthcare services, medical equipment, and specialty ingredient to patients, healthcare professionals, and hospitals; and electronic business supply carrier gases, electronic specialty and advanced materials, equipment and installation, and service to semiconductor, flat panel, and photovoltaic markets. The Engineering & Construction segment designs, develops, and builds industrial gas production plants to third parties; and design and manufacture plants in traditional, renewable and alternative energy sectors. The Global Markets & Technologies segment delivers technological solutions, such as molecules, equipment, and services to energy transition and deep technology. This segment also invests in and operates biomethane production units; designs hydrogen refueling stations; and supplies gases for the offshore oil and gas platforms, offshore wind turbines, and cryogenic transportation by sea. L'Air Liquide S.A. was incorporated in 1902 and is headquartered in Paris, France.

About Brenntag

Brenntag SE purchases and supplies various industrial and specialty chemicals, and ingredients in Germany, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Brenntag Essentials and Brenntag Specialties. It provides just-in-time delivery, product mixing, blending, repackaging, inventory management, and drum return handling. The company serves customers in various end-market industries, including nutrition, pharma, personal care, water treatment, and lubricants; and home, industrial, and institutional markets, as well as coatings and constructions, polymers, and rubber industries. The company was founded in 1874 and is based in Essen, Germany.