ZW Data Action Technologies (NASDAQ:CNET – Get Free Report) and Creative Realities (NASDAQ:CREX – Get Free Report) are both small-cap communication services companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares ZW Data Action Technologies and Creative Realities”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| ZW Data Action Technologies | $4.61 million | 0.88 | -$1.77 million | ($0.25) | -4.40 |
| Creative Realities | $57.23 million | 0.53 | -$8.28 million | ($2.11) | -1.06 |
ZW Data Action Technologies has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Creative Realities. ZW Data Action Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Creative Realities, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares ZW Data Action Technologies and Creative Realities’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| ZW Data Action Technologies | -23.98% | -20.22% | -8.58% |
| Creative Realities | -29.29% | -88.21% | -13.51% |
Volatility and Risk
ZW Data Action Technologies has a beta of 0.76, indicating that its share price is 24% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Creative Realities has a beta of 1.52, indicating that its share price is 52% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
0.0% of ZW Data Action Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 41.3% of Creative Realities shares are held by institutional investors. 17.4% of ZW Data Action Technologies shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 26.8% of Creative Realities shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for ZW Data Action Technologies and Creative Realities, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| ZW Data Action Technologies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Creative Realities | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.25 |
Creative Realities has a consensus price target of $8.00, suggesting a potential upside of 258.74%. Given Creative Realities’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Creative Realities is more favorable than ZW Data Action Technologies.
Summary
Creative Realities beats ZW Data Action Technologies on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About ZW Data Action Technologies
ZW Data Action Technologies Inc., through its subsidiaries, offers omni-channel advertising, precision marketing, and data analysis management systems in the People’s Republic of China. The company offers Internet advertising, precision marketing, and related data services to small and medium enterprises through its Internet portals, including 28.com and liansuo.com that provide advertisers with tools to build sales channels in the form of franchisees, sales agents, distributors, and/or resellers. It also develops and operates blockchain technology-based products and services, as well as blockchain-based SaaS services that provides one-stop blockchain-powered enterprise management solutions in forms of NFT generations, data record, share, and storage module subscriptions, etc. In addition, the company offers other e-commerce O2O advertising, and marketing and related value-added technical services. Additionally, it offers online-content production, distribution, promotion, and live streamer training and management services. The company was formerly known as ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. in October 2020. Data Action Technologies Inc. was founded in 2003 and is based in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.
About Creative Realities
Creative Realities, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides digital marketing technology and solutions in the United States and internationally. It offers digital signage and media solutions to enhance communications in a wide-ranging variety of out-of-home environments. The company’s solutions include digital merchandising systems and omni-channel customer engagement systems; interactive digital shopping assistants; advisors and kiosks; and other interactive marketing technologies, such as mobile, social media, point-of-sale transactions, beaconing, and web-based media that enables its customers to engage with their consumers. It also provides hardware system design/engineering, hardware installation, content development, content scheduling, post-deployment network and field support, and media sales, as well as media management and distribution software platforms and networks; device and product management; and customized software service layers, systems, experiences, workflows, and integrated solutions. The company sells its solutions to the automotive, retail, digital out of home comprising advertising networks and retail media networks, foodservice/quick-serve restaurants, financial services, gaming, and sports and entertainment venues. Creative Realities, Inc. is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
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