LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ:LPTH – Get Free Report) and MultiSensor AI (NASDAQ:MSAI – Get Free Report) are both small-cap technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.
Profitability
This table compares LightPath Technologies and MultiSensor AI’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| LightPath Technologies | -28.65% | -7.02% | -4.13% |
| MultiSensor AI | -141.70% | -36.08% | -31.31% |
Risk and Volatility
LightPath Technologies has a beta of 1.53, meaning that its stock price is 53% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MultiSensor AI has a beta of -0.17, meaning that its stock price is 117% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares LightPath Technologies and MultiSensor AI”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| LightPath Technologies | $71.72 million | 7.92 | -$20.55 million | ($0.40) | -20.25 |
| MultiSensor AI | $5.55 million | 1.30 | -$11.71 million | ($5.62) | -0.58 |
MultiSensor AI has lower revenue, but higher earnings than LightPath Technologies. LightPath Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than MultiSensor AI, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for LightPath Technologies and MultiSensor AI, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| LightPath Technologies | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2.83 |
| MultiSensor AI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 |
LightPath Technologies presently has a consensus price target of $13.70, suggesting a potential upside of 69.14%. Given LightPath Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe LightPath Technologies is more favorable than MultiSensor AI.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
56.3% of LightPath Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.3% of MultiSensor AI shares are owned by institutional investors. 10.9% of LightPath Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 50.8% of MultiSensor AI shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
LightPath Technologies beats MultiSensor AI on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About LightPath Technologies
LightPath Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes optical components and assemblies. The company offers precision molded glass aspheric optics, molded and diamond-turned infrared aspheric lenses, and other optical components used to produce products that manipulate light; and infrared products, including catalog and custom infrared optics. Its products are used in defense products, medical devices, laser aided industrial tools, automotive safety applications, barcode scanners, optical data storage, hybrid fiber coax datacom, telecommunications, machine vision and sensors, and other sectors. The company sells its products directly to customers in Europe and Asia. LightPath Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
About MultiSensor AI
MultiSensor AI Holdings, Inc. manufactures and distributes multi-sensor systems for thermographic and other use in various industrial applications in the United States and internationally. The company offers sensor devices ranging from small to large handheld designs with built-in displays and controls, fixed-mounted pan-tilt-zoom single- and multi-sensor camera standalone systems, and mobile multi-sensor payload and gimbal systems for unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles. It also provides on-prem and cloud-based software and services, including training, calibration, and repairs for its customers operating in the distribution and logistics, manufacturing, utility, and oil and gas sectors. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Beaumont, Texas.
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