Head-To-Head Analysis: Magnachip Semiconductor (NYSE:MX) versus Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI)

Magnachip Semiconductor (NYSE:MX) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Magnachip Semiconductor and Ascent Solar Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Magnachip Semiconductor	-20.08%	-14.31%	-10.89%
Ascent Solar Technologies	-28,235.93%	-1,360.73%	-157.70%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Magnachip Semiconductor and Ascent Solar Technologies”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Magnachip Semiconductor	$230.05 million	0.69	-$36.62 million	($1.16)	-3.67
Ascent Solar Technologies	$44,673.00	74.74	-$17.07 million	N/A	N/A

Ascent Solar Technologies has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Magnachip Semiconductor.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

74.3% of Magnachip Semiconductor shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 4.5% of Magnachip Semiconductor shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Magnachip Semiconductor has a beta of 0.63, meaning that its share price is 37% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 2.54, meaning that its share price is 154% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Magnachip Semiconductor and Ascent Solar Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Magnachip Semiconductor	0	1	2	0	2.67
Ascent Solar Technologies	0	0	0	0	0.00

Magnachip Semiconductor presently has a consensus target price of $7.50, indicating a potential upside of 76.06%. Given Magnachip Semiconductor’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Magnachip Semiconductor is more favorable than Ascent Solar Technologies.

Summary

Magnachip Semiconductor beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Magnachip Semiconductor

Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies analog and mixed-signal semiconductor platform solutions for communications, the Internet of Things, consumer, computing, industrial, and automotive applications. It provides display solutions, including source and gate drivers, and timing controllers that cover a range of flat panel displays used in mobile communications, automotive, entertainment devices, monitors, notebook PCs, tablet PC and TVs applied with liquid crystal display, organic light emitting diodes (OLED), and micro light emitting diode (Micro LED) panel. The company also offers metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors, insulated-gate bipolar transistors, AC-DC converters, DC-DC converters, LED drivers, regulators, and power management integrated circuits for a range of devices comprising televisions, smartphones, mobile phones, wearable devices, desktop PCs, notebooks, tablet PCs, and other consumer electronics, as well as for power suppliers, e-bikes, photovoltaic inverters, LED lighting, and motor drives; and OLED display driver integrated circuit products. It serves consumer, computing, communication, automotive and industrial electronics OEMs, original design manufacturers, and electronics manufacturing services companies, as well as subsystem designers in the Asia Pacific, the United States, and Europe. The company sells its products through a direct sales force, as well as through a network of agents and distributors. Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Cheongju-si, South Korea.

About Ascent Solar Technologies

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar technology company, engages in the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar modules in the United States. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. It serves agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.