Luminar Technologies (NASDAQ:LAZR – Get Free Report) and CarParts.com (NASDAQ:PRTS – Get Free Report) are both small-cap auto/tires/trucks companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk and profitability.
Risk and Volatility
Luminar Technologies has a beta of 2.03, indicating that its share price is 103% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CarParts.com has a beta of 0.93, indicating that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
31.0% of Luminar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.3% of CarParts.com shares are held by institutional investors. 11.2% of Luminar Technologies shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 9.7% of CarParts.com shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Recommendations
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Luminar Technologies | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| CarParts.com | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
Luminar Technologies currently has a consensus price target of $2.00, suggesting a potential upside of 133.92%. CarParts.com has a consensus price target of $1.85, suggesting a potential upside of 303.58%. Given CarParts.com’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe CarParts.com is more favorable than Luminar Technologies.
Profitability
This table compares Luminar Technologies and CarParts.com’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Luminar Technologies | -302.93% | N/A | -94.53% |
| CarParts.com | -9.25% | -67.30% | -25.32% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Luminar Technologies and CarParts.com”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Luminar Technologies | $75.39 million | 0.88 | -$273.14 million | ($4.99) | -0.17 |
| CarParts.com | $560.63 million | 0.06 | -$40.60 million | ($0.96) | -0.48 |
CarParts.com has higher revenue and earnings than Luminar Technologies. CarParts.com is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Luminar Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
CarParts.com beats Luminar Technologies on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Luminar Technologies
Luminar Technologies, Inc., an automotive technology company, provides sensor technologies and software for passenger cars and commercial trucks in North America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. It operates in two segments, Autonomy Solutions and Advanced Technologies and Services. The Autonomy Solutions segment designs, manufactures, and sells laser imaging, detection, and ranging sensors or lidars, as well as related perception and autonomy software solutions primarily for original equipment manufacturers in the automobile, commercial vehicle, robo-taxi, and adjacent industries. The Advanced Technologies and Services segment develops application-specific integrated circuits, pixel-based sensors, and advanced lasers. This segment also designs, tests, and provides consulting services for non-standard integrated circuits for use in automobile and aeronautics sector, as well as government spending in military and defense activities. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
About CarParts.com
CarParts.com, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an online provider of aftermarket auto parts and accessories in the United States and the Philippines. It offers replacement parts, such as parts for the exterior of an automobile; mirror products; engine and chassis components, as well as other mechanical and electrical parts; and performance parts and accessories. The company sells its products to individual customers through its flagship website www.carparts.com and app; online marketplaces, including third-party auction sites and shopping portals; and auto parts wholesale distributors. The company was formerly known as U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. and changed its name to CarParts.com, Inc. in July 2020. CarParts.com, Inc. was incorporated in 1995 and is headquartered in Torrance, California.
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