Aperam (OTCMKTS:APEMY – Get Free Report) and ZK International Group (NASDAQ:ZKIN – Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and dividends.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
0.3% of ZK International Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Aperam shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 29.8% of ZK International Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Aperam and ZK International Group”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Aperam | $6.88 billion | 0.63 | $10.18 million | $0.46 | 129.20 |
| ZK International Group | $71.24 million | 0.16 | -$3.98 million | N/A | N/A |
Aperam has higher revenue and earnings than ZK International Group.
Volatility and Risk
Aperam has a beta of 1.31, suggesting that its stock price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ZK International Group has a beta of 2.24, suggesting that its stock price is 124% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Aperam and ZK International Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Aperam | 0.49% | 0.94% | 0.52% |
| ZK International Group | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Aperam and ZK International Group, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Aperam | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2.50 |
| ZK International Group | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Summary
Aperam beats ZK International Group on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Aperam
Aperam S.A., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells stainless and specialty steel products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Stainless & Electrical Steel; Services & Solutions; Alloys & Specialties; and Recycling & Renewables. The company offers a range of stainless steel products, including grain oriented and non-grain oriented electrical steel products, and specialty alloys. It is also involved in the management of direct sales of stainless steel products from production facilities; distribution of its products; and the provision of transformation services that include value added and customized steel solutions. In addition, the company designs, produces, and transforms various specialty alloys and other specific stainless steels in forms, such as bars, semis, cold-rolled strips, wire and wire rods, and plates in a range on grades. Further, it engages in the trading, processing, and recycling of raw materials, such as superalloys and titanium; provides Recyco, an electric arc furnace recycling facility that retrieves dust and sludge to recycle stainless steel raw materials and reduce waste; and produces wood and charcoal from cultivated eucalyptus forests. The company serves customers in aerospace, automotive, catering, construction, household appliances, electrical engineering, industrial processes, medical, and oil and gas industries. It distributes its products through a network of steel service centers, transformation facilities, and sales offices. The company was incorporated in 2010 and is headquartered in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
About ZK International Group
ZK International Group Co., Ltd., through its subsidiaries, engages in the designing, producing, and selling double-press thin-walled stainless steel, carbon steel, and single-press tubes and fittings in the People's Republic of China. It offers carbon and stainless steel strips; carbon and stainless steel pipes; light gauge stainless steel pipes; pipe connections and fittings; and couplings, unions, adapters, caps, plug pipes, elbows, three-way fittings, tees, cross, side-inlet elbows, wyes, reducers, bushings, pipe fasteners, and pipe flanges. The company also provides stainless steel band, copper strip, valve, light industry machinery and equipment, and other stainless steel products. Its products are used in various applications, including water and gas transmission within urban infrastructural development, residential housing development, food and beverage production, oil and gas exploitation, and agricultural irrigation. The company also exports its products to Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. ZK International Group Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 2015 and is based in Wenzhou, the People's Republic of China.
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