KiOR (OTCMKTS:KIORQ) versus Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) Financial Comparison

Sensient Technologies (NYSE:SXT) and KiOR (OTCMKTS:KIORQ) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends and valuation.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

90.9% of Sensient Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of Sensient Technologies shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Sensient Technologies and KiOR’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Sensient Technologies	5.80%	11.41%	6.02%
KiOR	N/A	N/A	N/A

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Sensient Technologies and KiOR”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Sensient Technologies	$1.46 billion	2.24	$93.39 million	$2.09	36.80
KiOR	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Sensient Technologies has higher revenue and earnings than KiOR.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Sensient Technologies and KiOR, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Sensient Technologies	0	0	1	0	3.00
KiOR	0	0	0	0	0.00

Sensient Technologies presently has a consensus target price of $85.00, indicating a potential upside of 10.52%. Given Sensient Technologies’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Sensient Technologies is more favorable than KiOR.

Summary

Sensient Technologies beats KiOR on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Sensient Technologies

Sensient Technologies Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and markets colors, flavors, and other specialty ingredients in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa. The company offers flavor-delivery systems, and compounded and blended products; ingredient products, such as essential oils, natural and synthetic flavors, and natural extracts; and chili powder, paprika, and chili pepper, as well as dehydrated vegetables comprising parsley, celery, and spinach to the food, beverage, and personal care industries. It also provides natural and synthetic color systems for use in foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals; colors and other ingredients for personal care, such as active ingredients, solubilizers, and surface treated pigments; pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients, including colors, flavors, coatings, and nutraceutical ingredients; and technical colors for industrial applications under the Sensient Food Colors, Sensient Pharmaceutical Coating Systems, Sensient Cosmetic Technologies, and Sensient Specialty Markets trade names. Sensient Technologies Corporation was incorporated in 1882 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

About KiOR

KiOR, Inc., incorporated on July 23, 2007, is a development-stage and is a next generation renewable fuels company. The Company is engaged in developing a commercial process to produce cellulosic gasoline and diesel from abundant, lignocellulosic biomass. The Company has developed a two-step technology platform that converts non-food lignocellulose into cellulosic gasoline and diesel that can be transported using the existing fuels distribution system for use in vehicles. The other renewable fuels are derived from soft starches, such as corn starch or cane sugar, for ethanol, or from soy and other vegetable oils for biodiesel, cellulosic fuel is derived from lignocellulose found in wood, grasses and the non-edible portions of plants. The Company has not generated any revenue.