Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL) vs. Spire Global (NYSE:SPIR) Critical Contrast

Spire Global (NYSE:SPIR) and Vertical Aerospace (NYSE:EVTL) are both small-cap aerospace companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Spire Global and Vertical Aerospace’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Spire Global	40.08%	-80.89%	-25.80%
Vertical Aerospace	N/A	N/A	-489.91%

Risk and Volatility

Spire Global has a beta of 2.47, indicating that its share price is 147% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vertical Aerospace has a beta of 1.22, indicating that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Spire Global and Vertical Aerospace”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Spire Global	$110.45 million	2.89	-$102.82 million	$0.38	25.38
Vertical Aerospace	N/A	N/A	-$998.35 million	($48.92)	-0.08

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

Insider and Institutional Ownership

20.0% of Spire Global shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.2% of Vertical Aerospace shares are owned by institutional investors. 14.7% of Spire Global shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 74.8% of Vertical Aerospace shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Spire Global and Vertical Aerospace, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Spire Global	1	2	3	0	2.33
Vertical Aerospace	1	0	6	0	2.71

Spire Global presently has a consensus target price of $12.42, indicating a potential upside of 28.74%. Vertical Aerospace has a consensus target price of $11.80, indicating a potential upside of 190.28%. Given Vertical Aerospace’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Vertical Aerospace is more favorable than Spire Global.

Summary

Spire Global beats Vertical Aerospace on 7 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Spire Global

Spire Global, Inc. provides subscription-based data, insights, predictive analytics, and related project-based services worldwide. The company offers satellite-based aircraft tracking data to power applications, drive decision making, and improve cost efficiencies; data, insights, and predictive analytics for highly accurate ship monitoring, real-time and near real-time vessel updates, port operations, ship safety and route optimization; and space-based data, AI-powered insights, and predictive weather analytics for accurate weather forecasting. It serves maritime, weather, aviation, and space services industries. The company was formerly known as Nanosatisfi, Inc. and changed its name to Spire Global, Inc. in July 2014. Spire Global, Inc. is headquartered in Vienna, Virginia.

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace Ltd., an aerospace and technology company, engages in designing, manufacturing, and selling zero operating emission electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for use in the advanced air mobility in the United Kingdom. It offers VX4, an eVTOL aircraft. Vertical Aerospace Ltd. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom.