Nordson (NASDAQ:NDSN) & 3Dx Industries (OTCMKTS:DDDX) Head to Head Survey

3Dx Industries (OTCMKTS:DDDX) and Nordson (NASDAQ:NDSN) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.

Risk & Volatility

3Dx Industries has a beta of 1.92, meaning that its stock price is 92% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Nordson has a beta of 1, meaning that its stock price has a similar volatility profile to the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares 3Dx Industries and Nordson’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
3Dx Industries	-152.47%	N/A	N/A
Nordson	18.39%	19.73%	9.97%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

72.1% of Nordson shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of Nordson shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares 3Dx Industries and Nordson”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
3Dx Industries	$260,000.00	2.34	-$400,000.00	N/A	N/A
Nordson	$2.79 billion	5.80	$484.47 million	$9.26	31.34

Nordson has higher revenue and earnings than 3Dx Industries.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for 3Dx Industries and Nordson, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
3Dx Industries	0	0	0	0	0.00
Nordson	0	5	4	0	2.44

Nordson has a consensus target price of $276.14, suggesting a potential downside of 4.83%. Given Nordson’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Nordson is more favorable than 3Dx Industries.

Summary

Nordson beats 3Dx Industries on 11 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About 3Dx Industries

3DX Industries, Inc. manufactures and sells consumer and corporate products using an additive manufacturing method through 3D metal printing technology, and conventional precision manufacturing processes. The company was formerly known as Amarok Resources, Inc. and changed its name to 3DX Industries, Inc. in November 2013. 3DX Industries, Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Ferndale, Washington.

About Nordson

Nordson Corporation engineers, manufactures, and markets products and systems to dispense, apply, and control adhesives, coatings, polymers, sealants, biomaterials, and other fluids worldwide. It operates through three segments: Industrial Precision Solutions; Medical and Fluid Solutions; and Advanced Technology Solutions. The Industrial Precision Solutions segment provides dispensing, coating, and laminating systems for adhesives, lotions, liquids, and fibers to disposable products and roll goods; automated adhesive dispensing systems used in packaged goods industries; components and systems used in the thermoplastic and biopolymer melt stream; precision agriculture spraying solutions; fluid components, such as nozzles, pumps, and filters; and product assembly systems for use in paper and paperboard converting applications, and manufacturing roll goods. It also offers automated and manual dispensing products and systems for cold materials, container coating, liquid finishing, and powder coating, as well as ultraviolet equipment used primarily in curing and drying operations. The Medical and Fluid Solutions segment offers medical devices, including cannulas, catheters, and medical balloons; single-use plastic components; precision manual and semi-automated dispensers; minimally invasive interventional delivery devices; and plastic molded syringes, cartridges, tips, and fluid connection components. The Advanced Technology Solutions segment provides automated dispensing systems for the attachment, protection, and coating of fluids, as well as related gas plasma treatment systems for cleaning and conditioning surfaces; and bond testing and automated optical, acoustic microscopy, and x-ray inspection systems for use in semiconductor and printed circuit board industries. The company markets its products through direct sales force, as well as distributors and sales representatives. Nordson Corporation was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Westlake, Ohio.