Contrasting Concrete Pumping (NASDAQ:BBCP) and Aqua Metals (NASDAQ:AQMS)

Aqua Metals (NASDAQ:AQMS) and Concrete Pumping (NASDAQ:BBCP) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Aqua Metals and Concrete Pumping”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Aqua Metals	$30,000.00	432.15	-$24.55 million	($30.53)	-0.13
Concrete Pumping	$392.87 million	0.90	$6.37 million	$0.09	77.56

Concrete Pumping has higher revenue and earnings than Aqua Metals. Aqua Metals is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Concrete Pumping, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Aqua Metals has a beta of 0.03, indicating that its stock price is 97% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Concrete Pumping has a beta of 0.97, indicating that its stock price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

22.0% of Aqua Metals shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.2% of Concrete Pumping shares are held by institutional investors. 8.3% of Aqua Metals shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 28.2% of Concrete Pumping shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Aqua Metals and Concrete Pumping’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Aqua Metals	N/A	-274.21%	-159.86%
Concrete Pumping	1.65%	2.50%	0.74%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Aqua Metals and Concrete Pumping, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Aqua Metals	1	0	0	0	1.00
Concrete Pumping	0	3	1	0	2.25

Concrete Pumping has a consensus target price of $8.25, indicating a potential upside of 18.19%. Given Concrete Pumping’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Concrete Pumping is more favorable than Aqua Metals.

Summary

Concrete Pumping beats Aqua Metals on 13 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Aqua Metals

Aqua Metals, Inc. engages in reinventing metals recycling activities with its patented AquaRefining technology. The company's technology produces metals and alloys that can be returned into the battery manufacturing supply chain markets, as well as sells metals for use in various advanced manufacturing industries. Its AquaRefining, a low-emissions and recycling technology that replaces polluting furnaces and hazardous chemicals with electricity-powered electroplating to recover valuable metals and materials from spent batteries. Aqua Metals, Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada.

About Concrete Pumping

Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. provides concrete pumping and waste management services in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company offers concrete pumping services to general contractors and concrete finishing companies in the commercial, infrastructure, and residential sectors under the Brundage-Bone and Capital Pumping brands; and industrial cleanup and containment services primarily to customers in the construction industry under the Eco-Pan brand. It leases and rents concrete pumping equipment, pans, and containers. As of October 31, 2023, the company owned a fleet of approximately 930 boom pumps, 90 placing booms, 20 telebelts, 300 stationary pumps, and 115 waste management trucks. Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.