Head-To-Head Review: Research Frontiers (NASDAQ:REFR) versus VIA optronics (NYSE:VIAO)

Research Frontiers (NASDAQ:REFR) and VIA optronics (NYSE:VIAO) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Research Frontiers and VIA optronics, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Research Frontiers	0	0	0	0	N/A
VIA optronics	0	0	1	0	3.00

VIA optronics has a consensus target price of $3.00, suggesting a potential upside of 155.89%. Given VIA optronics’ higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe VIA optronics is more favorable than Research Frontiers.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Research Frontiers and VIA optronics’ top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Research Frontiers	$540,000.00	79.42	-$2.67 million	($0.06)	-21.33
VIA optronics	$230.25 million	N/A	-$10.75 million	($0.48)	-2.44

Research Frontiers has higher earnings, but lower revenue than VIA optronics. Research Frontiers is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than VIA optronics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

7.3% of Research Frontiers shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.2% of Research Frontiers shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 15.9% of VIA optronics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Research Frontiers and VIA optronics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Research Frontiers	-316.41%	-46.71%	-42.12%
VIA optronics	-4.62%	-17.25%	-6.58%

Risk & Volatility

Research Frontiers has a beta of 0.5, indicating that its stock price is 50% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, VIA optronics has a beta of 1.09, indicating that its stock price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

VIA optronics beats Research Frontiers on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Research Frontiers

Research Frontiers Incorporated develops and markets technology and devices to control the flow of light worldwide. It develops and licenses suspended particle device (SPD-Smart) light-control technology to companies that manufacture and market the SPD-Smart chemical emulsion, light-control film made from the chemical emulsion, the light-control panels made by laminating the film, and electronics to power end-products incorporating the film, as well as lamination services for and the end-products, such as windows, skylights, and sunroofs. The company's SPD-Smart light-control technology is used in various product applications, including windows, sunshades, skylights, and interior partitions for homes and buildings; automotive windows, sunroofs, sun-visors, sunshades, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels, and navigation systems; aircraft windows; museum display panels, and eyewear products; and flat panel displays for electronic products. It serves architectural, automotive, marine, and aerospace and appliance applications. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Woodbury, New York.

About VIA optronics

VIA optronics AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides display solutions worldwide. It also develops, manufactures, and sells customized and application-specific metal mesh touch sensors and electrode base film materials for use in touch modules or other touch products. In addition, the company offers interactive display solutions, including curved display panels and solutions integrating multiple display touch assemblies; and optical bonding services, as well as licenses optical bonding process and sells related equipment. It serves automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial/specialized end markets. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany. VIA optronics AG is a subsidiary of Integrated Micro-Electronics, Inc.