Head-To-Head Review: KiOR (OTCMKTS:KIORQ) & Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT)

KiOR (OTCMKTS:KIORQ) and Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) are both manufacturing companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and valuation.

Profitability

This table compares KiOR and Sensient Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
KiOR	N/A	N/A	N/A
Sensient Technologies	5.80%	11.41%	6.02%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares KiOR and Sensient Technologies”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
KiOR	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Sensient Technologies	$1.46 billion	2.06	$93.39 million	$2.09	33.92

Sensient Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than KiOR.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

90.9% of Sensient Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 1.4% of Sensient Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for KiOR and Sensient Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
KiOR	0	0	0	0	0.00
Sensient Technologies	0	0	1	0	3.00

Sensient Technologies has a consensus target price of $85.00, indicating a potential upside of 19.89%. Given Sensient Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Sensient Technologies is more favorable than KiOR.

Summary

Sensient Technologies beats KiOR on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About KiOR

KiOR, Inc., incorporated on July 23, 2007, is a development-stage and is a next generation renewable fuels company. The Company is engaged in developing a commercial process to produce cellulosic gasoline and diesel from abundant, lignocellulosic biomass. The Company has developed a two-step technology platform that converts non-food lignocellulose into cellulosic gasoline and diesel that can be transported using the existing fuels distribution system for use in vehicles. The other renewable fuels are derived from soft starches, such as corn starch or cane sugar, for ethanol, or from soy and other vegetable oils for biodiesel, cellulosic fuel is derived from lignocellulose found in wood, grasses and the non-edible portions of plants. The Company has not generated any revenue.

About Sensient Technologies

Sensient Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. The company offers flavor-delivery systems, and compounded and blended products; ingredient products, such as essential oils, natural and synthetic flavors, and natural extracts; and chili powder, paprika, and chili pepper, as well as dehydrated vegetables comprising parsley, celery, and spinach to the food, beverage, and personal care industries. It also provides natural and synthetic color systems for use in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals; colors and other ingredients for personal care, such as active ingredients, solubilizers, and surface treated pigments; pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients, including colors, flavors, coatings, and nutraceutical ingredients; and technical colors for industrial applications under the Sensient Food Colors, Sensient Pharmaceutical Coating Systems, Sensient Cosmetic Technologies, and Sensient Specialty Markets trade names. Sensient Technologies Corporation was incorporated in 1882 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.