ASM International (OTCMKTS:ASMIY) versus Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ:AEHR) Head-To-Head Analysis

Aehr Test Systems (NASDAQ:AEHR) and ASM International (OTCMKTS:ASMIY) are both technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations and risk.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

69.7% of Aehr Test Systems shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of ASM International shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.6% of Aehr Test Systems shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 24.4% of ASM International shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Aehr Test Systems and ASM International, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Aehr Test Systems	1	1	5	1	2.75
ASM International	1	2	5	0	2.50

Aehr Test Systems currently has a consensus target price of $132.50, suggesting a potential upside of 132.15%. Given Aehr Test Systems’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Aehr Test Systems is more favorable than ASM International.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Aehr Test Systems and ASM International”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Aehr Test Systems	$50.00 million	37.28	-$7.13 million	($0.24)	-237.81
ASM International	$3.59 billion	10.82	$818.79 million	$25.50	31.15

ASM International has higher revenue and earnings than Aehr Test Systems. Aehr Test Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ASM International, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Aehr Test Systems has a beta of 3.47, suggesting that its stock price is 247% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ASM International has a beta of 2.03, suggesting that its stock price is 103% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Aehr Test Systems and ASM International’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Aehr Test Systems	-14.25%	-3.83%	-3.36%
ASM International	31.94%	22.22%	16.33%

Summary

ASM International beats Aehr Test Systems on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Aehr Test Systems

Aehr Test Systems provides test solutions for testing, burning-in, and semiconductor devices in wafer level, singulated die, and package part form, and installed systems worldwide. Its product portfolio includes FOX-XP and FOX-NP systems that are full wafer contact and singulated die/module test and burn-in systems that can test, burn-in, and stabilize range of devices, including silicon carbide-based and other power semiconductors, 2D and 3D sensors used in mobile phones, tablets and other computing devices, memory semiconductors, processors, microcontrollers, systems-on-a-chip, and photonics and integrated optical devices. The company also offers FOX-CP system, a low-cost single-wafer compact test solution for logic, memory, and photonic devices; FOX WaferPak Contactor, a full wafer contactor capable of testing wafers up to 300mm that enables integrated circuit manufacturers to perform test, burn-in, and stabilization of full wafers on the FOX-P systems. In addition, it provides FOX DiePak Carrier, a reusable temporary package that enables IC manufacturers to perform final test and burn-in of bare die and modules; and FOX DiePak Loader. The company was incorporated in 1977 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.

About ASM International

ASM International NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, marketing, and servicing of equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices in Europe, the United States, and Asia. The company’s products include wafer processing deposition systems for atomic layer deposition (ALD), epitaxy, silicon carbide, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and vertical furnace systems, including low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), diffusion, and oxidation products, as well as provides spare parts and support services. It also manufactures and sells equipment, which is used in wafer processing, encompassing the fabrication steps in which silicon wafers are layered with semiconductor devices. The company offers its products to semiconductor manufacturers. The company was formerly known as Advanced Semiconductor Materials International NV. ASM International NV was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands.