Fuel Tech (NASDAQ:FTEK – Get Free Report) and OriginOil (OTCMKTS:OCLN – Get Free Report) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and earnings.
Profitability
This table compares Fuel Tech and OriginOil’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Fuel Tech | -12.17% | -7.29% | -6.32% |
| OriginOil | -455.14% | N/A | -940.51% |
Volatility and Risk
Fuel Tech has a beta of 0.95, suggesting that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, OriginOil has a beta of -0.26, suggesting that its stock price is 126% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Fuel Tech | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
| OriginOil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Fuel Tech presently has a consensus target price of $4.00, suggesting a potential upside of 196.30%. Given Fuel Tech’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Fuel Tech is more favorable than OriginOil.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
20.9% of Fuel Tech shares are held by institutional investors. 10.0% of Fuel Tech shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of OriginOil shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Fuel Tech and OriginOil”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Fuel Tech | $25.13 million | 1.67 | -$1.94 million | ($0.09) | -15.00 |
| OriginOil | $5.54 million | 2.31 | -$18.97 million | N/A | N/A |
Fuel Tech has higher revenue and earnings than OriginOil.
Summary
Fuel Tech beats OriginOil on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Fuel Tech
Fuel Tech, Inc. provides boiler optimization, efficiency improvement, and air pollution reduction and control solutions to utility and industrial customers worldwide. The company operates through Air Pollution Control Technology and FUEL CHEM Technology segments. The Air Pollution Control Technology segment offers technologies to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in flue gas from boilers, incinerators, furnaces, and other stationary combustion sources; NOxOUT and HERT selective non-catalytic reduction systems; selective catalytic reduction systems comprising ammonia injection grid, and graduated straightening grid systems; I-NOx systems; ESP Processes and Services; ULTRA technology; and flue gas conditioning systems. The FUEL CHEM Technology segment provides programs to improve the efficiency, reliability, fuel flexibility, boiler heat rate, and environmental status of combustion units by controlling slagging, fouling, corrosion, opacity, and acid plume, as well as the formation of sulfur trioxide, ammonium bisulfate, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide through the addition of chemicals into the furnace using TIFI targeted in-furnace injection technology. This segment offers its FUEL CHEM program for plants operating in the electric utility, industrial, pulp and paper, waste-to-energy, and university and district heating markets; and the owners of boilers, furnaces, and other combustion units. Fuel Tech, Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Warrenville, Illinois.
About OriginOil
OriginClear, Inc. provides water treatment solutions worldwide. The company designs and manufactures a line of water treatment systems for municipal, industrial, and pure water applications. It also offers a range of services, including maintenance contracts, retrofits, and replacement assistance; and rents equipment through contracts of varying duration, as well as provides prefabricated water transport and treatment systems. The company was formerly known as OriginOil, Inc. and changed its name to OriginClear, Inc. in April 2015. OriginClear, Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida.
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