Head-To-Head Analysis: Centuri (NYSE:CTRI) vs. Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP)

Ballard Power Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP) and Centuri (NYSE:CTRI) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

28.0% of Ballard Power Systems shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Ballard Power Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Centuri shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Ballard Power Systems and Centuri’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%
Centuri	0.09%	6.37%	1.71%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Ballard Power Systems and Centuri”s gross 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	10.05	-$324.24 million	($0.40)	-5.83
Centuri	$2.84 billion	0.97	-$6.72 million	$0.03	920.67

Centuri has higher revenue and earnings than Ballard Power Systems. Ballard Power Systems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Centuri, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Ballard Power Systems and Centuri, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ballard Power Systems	4	12	0	0	1.75
Centuri	2	1	3	0	2.17

Ballard Power Systems presently has a consensus target price of $2.33, indicating a potential upside of 0.00%. Centuri has a consensus target price of $26.40, indicating a potential downside of 4.42%. Given Ballard Power Systems’ higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Ballard Power Systems is more favorable than Centuri.

Risk and Volatility

Ballard Power Systems has a beta of 1.65, indicating that its stock price is 65% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Centuri has a beta of 0.82, indicating that its stock price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Centuri beats Ballard Power Systems on 9 of the 14 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 Centuri

Centuri Holdings, Inc. operates as a utility infrastructure services company in North America. It offers gas utility services, including maintenance, repair, installation, and replacement services for natural gas local distribution utility companies with focus on the modernization of infrastructure. The company also provides electric utility services comprising design, maintenance and repair, upgrade, and expansion services for transmission and distribution infrastructure. Its customers include electric, gas, and combination utility companies, as well as serves end markets, such as renewable energy and 5G datacom. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Centuri Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.