Quantum-Si (NASDAQ:QSI – Get Free Report) and nLight (NASDAQ:LASR – Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, earnings, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Risk & Volatility
Quantum-Si has a beta of 3, suggesting that its share price is 200% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, nLight has a beta of 2.27, suggesting that its share price is 127% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Quantum-Si and nLight, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Quantum-Si | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.25 |
| nLight | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2.82 |
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Quantum-Si and nLight”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Quantum-Si | $2.44 million | 77.20 | -$101.34 million | ($0.52) | -1.68 |
| nLight | $261.33 million | 12.52 | -$23.47 million | ($0.47) | -124.77 |
nLight has higher revenue and earnings than Quantum-Si. nLight is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Quantum-Si, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
39.9% of Quantum-Si shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 83.9% of nLight shares are owned by institutional investors. 23.0% of Quantum-Si shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.1% of nLight shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares Quantum-Si and nLight’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Quantum-Si | -4,160.06% | -43.90% | -39.30% |
| nLight | -8.98% | -9.28% | -6.77% |
Summary
nLight beats Quantum-Si on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Quantum-Si
Quantum-Si incorporated, a life sciences company, engages in the development of single-molecule detection platform to enable Next Generation Protein Sequencing (NGPS). The company's platform is comprised of the Platinum NGPS instrument; the Platinum Analysis Software service; and reagent kits and semiconductor chips for use with its instruments. It is used in protein identification, protein variants, antibody characterization, biomarker identification, and post translational modification analysis applications. The company was founded in 2013 is headquartered in Branford, Connecticut.
About nLight
nLIGHT, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells semiconductor and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace and defense applications. The company operates in two segments, Laser Products and Advanced Development. It offers semiconductor lasers with various ranges of power levels, wavelengths, and output fiber sizes; and programmable and serviceable fiber lasers for use in industrial and aerospace and defense applications. The company also provides laser sensors, including light detection and ranging technologies for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance applications; and fiber amplifiers, beam combination, and control systems for use in high-energy laser systems in directed energy applications. It sells its products through direct sales force in the United States, China, South Korea, and European countries, as well as through independent sales representatives and distributors in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The company was formerly known as nLight Photonics Corporation and changed its name to nLIGHT, Inc. in January 2016. nLIGHT, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Camas, Washington.
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