NWPX Infrastructure (NASDAQ:NWPX – Get Free Report) and Jewett-Cameron Trading (NASDAQ:JCTC – Get Free Report) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, earnings, valuation and institutional ownership.
Risk and Volatility
NWPX Infrastructure has a beta of 1.09, meaning that its stock price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Jewett-Cameron Trading has a beta of 0.34, meaning that its stock price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares NWPX Infrastructure and Jewett-Cameron Trading’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| NWPX Infrastructure | 8.49% | 12.22% | 7.93% |
| Jewett-Cameron Trading | -20.94% | -38.35% | -29.29% |
Valuation & Earnings
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| NWPX Infrastructure | $574.44 million | 2.00 | $35.41 million | $4.99 | 23.91 |
| Jewett-Cameron Trading | $39.41 million | 0.27 | -$4.13 million | ($2.35) | -1.29 |
NWPX Infrastructure has higher revenue and earnings than Jewett-Cameron Trading. Jewett-Cameron Trading is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NWPX Infrastructure, 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 NWPX Infrastructure and Jewett-Cameron Trading, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| NWPX Infrastructure | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2.80 |
| Jewett-Cameron Trading | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
NWPX Infrastructure presently has a consensus target price of $110.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.81%. Given NWPX Infrastructure’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe NWPX Infrastructure is more favorable than Jewett-Cameron Trading.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
80.6% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.0% of Jewett-Cameron Trading shares are held by institutional investors. 3.3% of NWPX Infrastructure shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.3% of Jewett-Cameron Trading shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
NWPX Infrastructure beats Jewett-Cameron Trading on 15 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About NWPX Infrastructure
Northwest Pipe Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and supply of water-related infrastructure products in North America. It operates in two segments, Engineered Steel Pressure Pipe (SPP) and Precast Infrastructure and Engineered Systems (Precast). The SPP segment offers large-diameter and high-pressure steel pipeline systems for use in water infrastructure applications, which are primarily related to drinking water systems. Its products are also used for hydroelectric power systems, wastewater systems, seismic resiliency, and other applications. In addition, this segment makes products for industrial plant piping systems and certain structural applications. The Precast segment provides stormwater and wastewater technology products, precast, and reinforced concrete products, including reinforced concrete pipe, manholes, box culverts, vaults and catch basins, pump lift stations, oil water separators, biofiltration units, steel casing pipes, and bar-wrapped concrete cylinder pipes, as well as pipeline system joints, fittings, specialized components, and other environmental and engineered solutions. The company sells its water infrastructure products under ParkUSA, Geneva Pipe and Precast, Permalok, and Northwest Pipe Company brands primarily to installation contractors. Northwest Pipe Company was incorporated in 1966 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Washington.
About Jewett-Cameron Trading
Jewett-Cameron Trading Company Ltd. is a supplier of `Value-added` building materials to major home improvement center chains in the western United States. The Company concentrates on the residential repair and remodeling segment of the building materials industry.
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