Head to Head Survey: Genie Energy (NYSE:GNE) versus Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR)

Genie Energy (NYSE:GNE) and Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR) are both utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, risk and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Genie Energy and Commerce Energy Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Genie Energy	1.82%	6.40%	3.26%
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

49.2% of Genie Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 17.4% of Genie Energy shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Commerce Energy Group shares are held by 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 Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Genie Energy and Commerce Energy Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Genie Energy	0	1	0	0	2.00
Commerce Energy Group	0	0	0	0	0.00

Given Commerce Energy Group’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Commerce Energy Group is more favorable than Genie Energy.

Risk and Volatility

Genie Energy has a beta of 0.05, suggesting that its stock price is 95% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Commerce Energy Group has a beta of 14.84, suggesting that its stock price is 1,384% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Genie Energy and Commerce Energy Group”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Genie Energy	$425.20 million	0.98	$12.59 million	$0.14	111.07
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Genie Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Commerce Energy Group.

Summary

Genie Energy beats Commerce Energy Group on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Genie Energy

Genie Energy Ltd., through its subsidiaries, engages in the supply of electricity and natural gas to residential and small business customers in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, GRE and Genie Renewables. The company also develops, constructs, and operates solar energy projects for commercial and industrial customers, as well as its own portfolio; provides energy brokerage and advisory services; markets community solar energy solutions; and manufactures and distributes solar panel, as well as engages in solar installation design and project management activities. Genie Energy Ltd. was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.

About Commerce Energy Group

Commerce Energy Group Inc. through its subsidiaries provides electric power and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Costa Mesa, California.