Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE) vs. Optex Systems (NASDAQ:OPXS) Head-To-Head Contrast

Optex Systems (NASDAQ:OPXS) and Park Aerospace (NYSE:PKE) are both small-cap aerospace companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Optex Systems and Park Aerospace”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Optex Systems	$33.99 million	2.91	$3.77 million	$0.75	19.11
Park Aerospace	$62.03 million	6.29	$5.88 million	$0.36	54.46

Park Aerospace has higher revenue and earnings than Optex Systems. Optex Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Park Aerospace, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Optex Systems has a beta of 0.61, meaning that its share price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Park Aerospace has a beta of 0.33, meaning that its share price is 67% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

19.1% of Optex Systems shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.8% of Park Aerospace shares are owned by institutional investors. 30.3% of Optex Systems shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 11.3% of Park Aerospace shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Optex Systems and Park Aerospace’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Optex Systems	13.01%	24.67%	19.20%
Park Aerospace	11.57%	7.97%	7.01%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Optex Systems and Park Aerospace, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Optex Systems	0	0	1	0	3.00
Park Aerospace	0	1	0	0	2.00

Summary

Optex Systems beats Park Aerospace on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Optex Systems

Optex Systems Holdings, Inc manufactures and sells optical sighting systems and assemblies primarily for the U.S. department of defense, foreign military applications, and commercial markets in the United States. It offers periscopes, such as laser and non-laser protected plastic and glass periscopes, electronic M17 day/thermal periscopes, and vision blocks; sighting systems, including back up sights, digital day and night sighting systems, M36 thermal periscope, unity mirrors, optical weapon system support and maintenance, commander weapon station sights, and sight assembly refurbishments; howitzers comprising M137 telescope, M187 mount, M119 aiming device, XM10 and aiming circles; and applied optics center consisting of laser interference filter, optical assemblies, laser filter units, day windows, and specialty thin film coatings, as well as other products, such as muzzle reference systems, binoculars, collimators, optical lenses and elements, and windows. The company also provides various periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights, and night vision optical assemblies. Its products are installed on various types of U.S. military land vehicles, such as the Abrams, Bradley, and Stryker families of fighting vehicles, as well as light armored and armored security vehicles. The company offers its products directly to the federal government, prime contractors, and foreign governments. Optex Systems Holdings, Inc was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Richardson, Texas. Optex Systems Holdings, Inc is a subsidiary of Sileas Corporation.

About Park Aerospace

Park Aerospace Corp., an aerospace company, develops and manufactures solution and hot-melt advanced composite materials used to produce composite structures for the aerospace market in North America, Asia, and Europe. It offers advanced composite materials, including film adhesives and lightning strike protection materials that are used to produce primary and secondary structures for jet engines, large and regional transport aircrafts, military aircrafts, unmanned aerial vehicles, business jets, general aviation aircrafts, and rotary wing aircrafts. The company also provides specialty ablative materials for rocket motors and nozzles; and specially designed materials for radome applications. In addition, it designs and fabricates composite parts, structures and assemblies, and low volume tooling for the aerospace industry. The company was formerly known as Park Electrochemical Corp. and changed its name to Park Aerospace Corp. in July 2019. Park Aerospace Corp. was incorporated in 1954 and is based in Westbury, New York.