Financial Contrast: Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP) and Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR)

Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR) and Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, dividends, profitability and institutional ownership.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

28.0% of Ballard Power Systems shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Commerce Energy Group shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Ballard Power Systems shares are held 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.

Profitability

This table compares Commerce Energy Group and Ballard Power Systems’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ballard Power Systems	-132.80%	-17.89%	-15.43%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Commerce Energy Group and Ballard Power Systems”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ballard Power Systems	$69.73 million	12.03	-$324.24 million	($0.40)	-6.98

Commerce Energy Group has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Ballard Power Systems.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations for Commerce Energy Group and Ballard Power Systems, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Commerce Energy Group	0	0	0	0	0.00
Ballard Power Systems	4	14	0	0	1.78

Ballard Power Systems has a consensus price target of $2.23, indicating a potential downside of 20.01%. Given Commerce Energy Group’s higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Commerce Energy Group is more favorable than Ballard Power Systems.

Risk and Volatility

Commerce Energy Group has a beta of 17.55, indicating that its stock price is 1,655% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ballard Power Systems has a beta of 1.65, indicating that its stock price is 65% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Commerce Energy Group beats Ballard Power Systems on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

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.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products. The company offers its products for power product comprising for bus, truck, rail, marine, stationary, and emerging market, such as material handling, off-road, and other applications. It also engages in the delivery of services, including technology solutions, after sales services, and training; and provision of engineering services, product and systems integration services, and related technology transfer for a variety of PEM fuel cell applications. It operates in the United States, Germany, Canada, China, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Belgium, India, Taiwan, Spain, Norway, Australia, Japan, and internationally. The company has a strategic alliance with Linamar Corporation for the co-development and sale of fuel cell powertrains and components for class 1 and 2 vehicles in North America and Europe. Ballard Power Systems Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.