Reviewing Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE:FDP) and Pyxus International (OTCMKTS:PYYX)

Pyxus International (OTCMKTS:PYYX) and Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE:FDP) are both small-cap consumer staples companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Pyxus International and Fresh Del Monte Produce’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Pyxus International	-0.22%	-3.09%	-0.27%
Fresh Del Monte Produce	2.10%	7.63%	5.01%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Pyxus International and Fresh Del Monte Produce”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Pyxus International	$119.15 million	0.61	$15.17 million	($0.20)	-14.75
Fresh Del Monte Produce	$4.32 billion	0.42	$90.70 million	$1.88	20.10

Fresh Del Monte Produce has higher revenue and earnings than Pyxus International. Pyxus International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Fresh Del Monte Produce, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Pyxus International has a beta of 1.18, meaning that its share price is 18% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fresh Del Monte Produce has a beta of 0.3, meaning that its share price is 70% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

64.8% of Fresh Del Monte Produce shares are owned by institutional investors. 10.0% of Pyxus International shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 30.6% of Fresh Del Monte Produce shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Pyxus International and Fresh Del Monte Produce, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Pyxus International	0	0	0	0	0.00
Fresh Del Monte Produce	0	0	1	0	3.00

Summary

Fresh Del Monte Produce beats Pyxus International on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Pyxus International

Pyxus International, Inc., an agricultural company, offers value-added products and services to businesses and customers. It also involved in the purchasing, processing, packing, storing, and shipping tobacco to manufacturers of cigarettes and other consumer tobacco products. The company offers its products in China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Russia, Northern Africa, and internationally. The company was formerly known as Old Holdco, Inc. Pyxus International, Inc. was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina.

About Fresh Del Monte Produce

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., through its subsidiaries, produces, markets, and distributes fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fresh and Value-Added Products, Banana, and Other Products and Services. The company offers pineapples, fresh-cut fruit, fresh-cut vegetables, melons, and vegetables; non-tropical fruits, such as grapes, apples, citrus, blueberries, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, and kiwis; other fruit and vegetables, and avocados; and prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, other beverages, and meals and snacks. It also engages in the sale of poultry and meat products; and third-party freight services business. The company offers its products under the Del Monte brand, as well as under other brands, such as UTC, Rosy, Just Juice, Fruitini, Pinkglow, Del Monte Zero, Honeyglow, Rubyglow, Honey Miniglow, Bananinis, Mann, Mann’s Logo, Arcadian Harvest, Nourish Bowls, Broccolini, Caulilini, Better Burger Leaf, Romaleaf, and other regional brands. It markets and distributes its products to retail stores, club stores, convenience stores, wholesalers, distributors, and foodservice operators. Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. was founded in 1886 and is based in George Town, Cayman Islands.