Meritage Hospitality Group (OTCMKTS:MHGU – Get Free Report) and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (NASDAQ:RMCF – Get Free Report) are both small-cap retail/wholesale companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership and valuation.
Risk & Volatility
Meritage Hospitality Group has a beta of -0.08, indicating that its share price is 108% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its share price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Meritage Hospitality Group and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Meritage Hospitality Group | -0.10% | -0.54% | -0.08% |
| Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory | -15.77% | -63.75% | -22.21% |
Insider and Institutional Ownership
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Meritage Hospitality Group and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Meritage Hospitality Group | $668.80 million | 0.07 | $7.80 million | ($0.51) | -13.24 |
| Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory | $29.99 million | 0.43 | -$6.12 million | ($0.61) | -2.74 |
Meritage Hospitality Group has higher revenue and earnings than Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Meritage Hospitality Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Meritage Hospitality Group and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Meritage Hospitality Group | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Dividends
Meritage Hospitality Group pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory pays an annual dividend of $0.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 28.7%. Meritage Hospitality Group pays out -39.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory pays out -78.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.
About Meritage Hospitality Group
Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. operates quick-service and casual dining restaurants. The company operates restaurants under the Wendy's, Morning Belle, and Stan's Tacos, as well as Taco John's brand names in Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. It is also involved in franchising activities. The company was formerly known as Thomas Edison Inns, Inc. and changed its name to Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. in May 1996. Meritage Hospitality Group Inc. was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
About Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a confectionery franchisor, manufacturer, and retail operator. It operates through Franchising, Manufacturing, Retail Stores, and Other segments. The company produces approximately 400 chocolate candies and other confectionery products, including clusters, caramels, creams, toffees, mints, and truffles; and offers 15 varieties of caramel apples and other products that are prepared in individual stores, as well as provides ice cream, coffee, and other sundries. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Durango, Colorado.
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