Contrasting Eastman Kodak (NYSE:KODK) & ESS Tech (NYSE:GWH)

ESS Tech (NYSE:GWH) and Eastman Kodak (NYSE:KODK) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, risk, earnings and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares ESS Tech and Eastman Kodak”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ESS Tech	$6.30 million	5.73	-$86.22 million	($5.10)	-0.36
Eastman Kodak	$1.04 billion	0.78	$102.00 million	($0.33)	-25.64

Eastman Kodak has higher revenue and earnings than ESS Tech. Eastman Kodak is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ESS Tech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility and Risk

ESS Tech has a beta of 1.46, indicating that its share price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Eastman Kodak has a beta of 1.43, indicating that its share price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares ESS Tech and Eastman Kodak’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ESS Tech	-1,045.28%	-592.34%	-125.15%
Eastman Kodak	0.57%	1.72%	0.54%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for ESS Tech and Eastman Kodak, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ESS Tech	1	5	1	0	2.00
Eastman Kodak	1	0	0	0	1.00

ESS Tech currently has a consensus price target of $2.88, suggesting a potential upside of 56.25%. Given ESS Tech’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe ESS Tech is more favorable than Eastman Kodak.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

46.8% of ESS Tech shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 33.7% of Eastman Kodak shares are held by institutional investors. 1.7% of ESS Tech shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 23.9% of Eastman Kodak shares are held 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.

About ESS Tech

ESS Tech, Inc., an energy storage company, designs and produces iron flow batteries for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications worldwide. It offers energy storage products, which include Energy Warehouse, a behind-the-meter solution; and Energy Center, a front-of-the-meter solution. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon.

About Eastman Kodak

Eastman Kodak Company engages in the provision of hardware, software, consumables, and services to customers in the commercial print, packaging, publishing, manufacturing, and entertainment markets worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Print, Advanced Materials and Chemicals, and Brand. The Print segment provides digital offset plate offerings and computer-to-plate imaging solutions; press systems and components under the PROSPER brand name, as well as print inks and primers under the KODAK OPTIMAX, KODACHROME, and KODAK EKTACOLOR brand names; and PRINERGY, a workflow production software, which is used by customers to manage digital and conventional print content from file creation to output. This segment offers its products to commercial industries, including commercial print, direct mail, book publishing, newspapers and magazines, décor, and packaging/labels. The Advanced Materials and Chemicals segment engages in industrial film and chemicals, motion picture, advanced materials and functional printing, and IP licensing and analytical activities. This segment also comprises the Kodak Research Laboratories, which conducts research, develops new product or new business opportunities, and files patent applications for its inventions and innovations, as well as manages licensing of its intellectual property to third parties. The Brand segment engages in the licensing of Kodak brand to third parties. The company is also involved in the operation of Eastman Business Park, a technology center and industrial complex. It sells its products and services through direct sales, third party resellers, dealers, channel partners, and distributors. The company was founded in 1880 and is headquartered in Rochester, New York.