Critical Contrast: Electronic Cigarettes International Group (OTCMKTS:ECIGQ) and Turning Point Brands (NYSE:TPB)

Electronic Cigarettes International Group (OTCMKTS:ECIGQ) and Turning Point Brands (NYSE:TPB) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

96.1% of Turning Point Brands shares are held by institutional investors. 6.6% of Turning Point Brands shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Electronic Cigarettes International Group and Turning Point Brands’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Electronic Cigarettes International Group	N/A	N/A	N/A
Turning Point Brands	10.19%	27.70%	9.78%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Electronic Cigarettes International Group and Turning Point Brands”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Electronic Cigarettes International Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Turning Point Brands	$360.66 million	3.63	$39.81 million	$2.28	32.11

Turning Point Brands has higher revenue and earnings than Electronic Cigarettes International Group.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for Electronic Cigarettes International Group and Turning Point Brands, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Electronic Cigarettes International Group	0	0	0	0	0.00
Turning Point Brands	0	0	5	1	3.17

Turning Point Brands has a consensus price target of $76.67, suggesting a potential upside of 4.72%. Given Turning Point Brands’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Turning Point Brands is more favorable than Electronic Cigarettes International Group.

Summary

Turning Point Brands beats Electronic Cigarettes International Group on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Electronic Cigarettes International Group

Electronic Cigarettes International Group, Ltd. is a marketer and distributor of vaping products and electronic cigarettes primarily in the United States and internationally. It offers disposables, rechargeables, tanks, starter kits, e-liquids, open and closed-end vaping systems and accessories. The Company’s brand portfolio includes the FIN, VIP, VAPESTICK and VICTORY. Electronic Cigarettes International Group, Ltd. is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

About Turning Point Brands

Turning Point Brands, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes branded consumer products. The company operates through three segments: Zig-Zag Products, Stoker’s Products, and Creative Distribution Solutions. Zig-Zag Products segment markets and distributes rolling papers, tubes, finished cigars, make-your-own cigar wraps, and related products, as well as lighters and other accessories under the Zig-Zag brand. The Stoker’s Products segment manufactures and markets moist snuff tobacco and loose-leaf chewing tobacco products under the Stoker’s, Beech-Nut, Durango, Trophy, and Wind River brands. Its Creative Distribution Solutions segment market and distribute other products without tobacco and/or nicotine to individual consumers through VaporFi B2C online platform, as well as non-traditional retail through VaporBeast. In addition, it markets and distributes cannabis accessories and tobacco products. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors and retail merchants in the independent and chain convenience stores, tobacco outlets, food stores, mass merchandising, drug store, and non-traditional retail channels. The company was formerly known as North Atlantic Holding Company, Inc. and changed its name to Turning Point Brands, Inc. in November 2015. Turning Point Brands, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.