Westlake Chemical Partners (NYSE:WLKP – Get Free Report) and Ascent Industries (NASDAQ:ACNT – Get Free Report) are both small-cap materials companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, dividends, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
78.3% of Westlake Chemical Partners shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.1% of Ascent Industries shares are held by institutional investors. 1.1% of Westlake Chemical Partners shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 7.5% of Ascent Industries shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Westlake Chemical Partners and Ascent Industries, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Westlake Chemical Partners | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.50 |
| Ascent Industries | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Volatility & Risk
Westlake Chemical Partners has a beta of 0.54, indicating that its stock price is 46% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Industries has a beta of 0.49, indicating that its stock price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Westlake Chemical Partners and Ascent Industries’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Westlake Chemical Partners | 4.66% | 7.25% | 4.63% |
| Ascent Industries | -5.31% | -2.72% | -2.07% |
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Westlake Chemical Partners and Ascent Industries”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Westlake Chemical Partners | $1.17 billion | 0.64 | $48.70 million | $1.63 | 13.06 |
| Ascent Industries | $74.94 million | 1.77 | $870,000.00 | ($0.45) | -32.67 |
Westlake Chemical Partners has higher revenue and earnings than Ascent Industries. Ascent Industries is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Westlake Chemical Partners, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
Westlake Chemical Partners beats Ascent Industries on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Westlake Chemical Partners
Westlake Chemical Partners LP acquires, develops, and operates ethylene production facilities and related assets in the United States. The company’s ethylene production facilities primarily convert ethane into ethylene. It also sells ethylene co-products, such as propylene, crude butadiene, pyrolysis gasoline, and hydrogen directly to third parties on either a spot or contract basis. Westlake Chemical Partners GP LLC serves as the general partner of the company. Westlake Chemical Partners LP was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
About Ascent Industries
Ascent Industries Co. an industrials company, produces and distributes stainless steel pipe and tube and specialty chemicals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Tubular Products and Specialty Chemicals. It manufactures welded pipes and tubes, primarily from stainless steel, duplex, and nickel alloys; and ornamental stainless steel tubes for automotive, commercial transportation, marine, food services, construction, furniture, healthcare, and other industries. The company also produces defoamers, surfactants, and lubricating agents for end users, including companies that supply agrochemical paper, metal working, coatings, water treatment, paint, mining, oil and gas, and janitorial and other applications. In addition, it provides contract manufacturing services, as well as operates as a multi-purpose plant to process various difficult to handle materials, including flammable solvents, viscous liquids, and granular solids. The company was formerly known as Synalloy Corporation and changed its name to Ascent Industries Co. in August 2022. Ascent Industries Co. was founded in 1945 and is based in Oak Brook, Illinois.
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