Ocean Power Technologies (NASDAQ:OPTT – Get Free Report) and Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG – Get Free Report) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.
Profitability
This table compares Ocean Power Technologies and Plug Power’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Ocean Power Technologies | -304.91% | -97.03% | -72.36% |
| Plug Power | -220.59% | -56.01% | -21.09% |
Institutional and Insider Ownership
11.9% of Ocean Power Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 43.5% of Plug Power shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Ocean Power Technologies shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.4% of Plug Power shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Risk & Volatility
Ocean Power Technologies has a beta of 2.78, suggesting that its stock price is 178% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Plug Power has a beta of 2.13, suggesting that its stock price is 113% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Ocean Power Technologies and Plug Power, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Ocean Power Technologies | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.50 |
| Plug Power | 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2.25 |
Ocean Power Technologies presently has a consensus target price of $45.00, suggesting a potential upside of 9,727.47%. Plug Power has a consensus target price of $3.40, suggesting a potential upside of 141.46%. Given Ocean Power Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Ocean Power Technologies is more favorable than Plug Power.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Ocean Power Technologies and Plug Power”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Ocean Power Technologies | $4.26 million | 0.98 | -$27.48 million | ($6.69) | -0.07 |
| Plug Power | $709.92 million | 2.78 | -$1.63 billion | ($1.26) | -1.12 |
Ocean Power Technologies has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Plug Power. Plug Power is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ocean Power Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
Plug Power beats Ocean Power Technologies on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Ocean Power Technologies
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. develops and commercializes proprietary power platforms that generate electricity by harnessing the renewable energy of ocean waves in North America, South America, Australia, and Asia. It offers PB3 PowerBuoy that generates power for use independent of the power grid in offshore locations. The company also provides Next Generation PowerBuoy; subsea battery systems; and software, controls, sensors, integration services, and marine installation services. In addition, it offers Wave Adaptive Modular Vessel (WAM-V) technology, which enables roaming capabilities for uncrewed maritime systems in waters; leases WAM-V robotics and access information; maritime domain awareness solutions; and strategic consulting services. Further, the company provides offshore data collection, integration, analytics, and real time communication for various applications. It serves public and private entities, and agencies that require remote offshore power. Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
About Plug Power
Plug Power Inc. develops hydrogen and fuel cell product solutions in North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers GenDrive, a hydrogen-fueled proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system that provides power to material handling electric vehicles; GenSure, a stationary fuel cell solution that offers modular PEM fuel cell power to support the backup and grid-support power requirements of the telecommunications, transportation, and utility sectors; ProGen, a fuel cell stack and engine technology used in mobility and stationary fuel cell systems, and as engines in electric delivery vans; GenFuel, a liquid hydrogen fueling delivery, generation, storage, and dispensing system; GenCare, an ongoing Internet of Things-based maintenance and on-site service program for GenDrive fuel cell systems, GenSure fuel cell systems, GenFuel hydrogen storage and dispensing products, and ProGen fuel cell engines; and GenKey, an integrated turn-key solution for transitioning to fuel cell power. It also provides electrolyzers, a hydrogen generator for clean hydrogen production; liquefaction systems that provides liquid hydrogen to customers; cryogenic equipment for the distribution of liquified hydrogen, oxygen, argon, nitrogen and other cryogenic gases, including trailers and mobile storage equipment; and liquid hydrogen, an alternative fuel to fossil-based energy. The company sells its products through a direct product sales force, original equipment manufacturers, and dealer networks. Plug Power Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Latham, New York.
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