Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP) and Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR) Critical Contrast

Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP) and Commerce Energy Group (OTCMKTS:CMNR) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Ballard Power Systems and Commerce Energy Group”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ballard Power Systems	$69.73 million	11.86	-$324.24 million	($0.40)	-6.88
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Commerce Energy Group has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Ballard Power Systems.

Profitability

This table compares Ballard Power Systems and Commerce Energy Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ballard Power Systems	-132.80%	-17.89%	-15.43%
Commerce Energy Group	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Ballard Power Systems and Commerce Energy Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ballard Power Systems	4	14	0	0	1.78
Commerce Energy Group	0	0	0	0	0.00

Ballard Power Systems currently has a consensus price target of $2.23, indicating a potential downside of 18.84%. Given Commerce Energy Group’s higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Commerce Energy Group is more favorable than Ballard Power Systems.

Risk & Volatility

Ballard Power Systems has a beta of 1.65, suggesting that its share price is 65% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Commerce Energy Group has a beta of 17.55, suggesting that its share price is 1,655% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

28.0% of Ballard Power Systems shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Ballard Power Systems shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Commerce Energy Group shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Commerce Energy Group beats Ballard Power Systems on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, sale, and service of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell products. The company offers its products for power product comprising for bus, truck, rail, marine, stationary, and emerging market, such as material handling, off-road, and other applications. It also engages in the delivery of services, including technology solutions, after sales services, and training; and provision of engineering services, product and systems integration services, and related technology transfer for a variety of PEM fuel cell applications. It operates in the United States, Germany, Canada, China, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Belgium, India, Taiwan, Spain, Norway, Australia, Japan, and internationally. The company has a strategic alliance with Linamar Corporation for the co-development and sale of fuel cell powertrains and components for class 1 and 2 vehicles in North America and Europe. Ballard Power Systems Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Burnaby, Canada.

About Commerce Energy Group

Commerce Energy Group Inc. through its subsidiaries provides electric power and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Costa Mesa, California.