Head-To-Head Survey: Research Frontiers (NASDAQ:REFR) & Hayward (NYSE:HAYW)

Research Frontiers (NASDAQ:REFR) and Hayward (NYSE:HAYW) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, earnings and profitability.

Volatility & Risk

Research Frontiers has a beta of 0.48, indicating that its stock price is 52% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hayward has a beta of 1.12, indicating that its stock price is 12% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

11.9% of Research Frontiers shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.5% of Research Frontiers shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 4.7% of Hayward shares are owned 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

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Research Frontiers and Hayward, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Research Frontiers	1	0	0	0	1.00
Hayward	0	3	2	0	2.40

Hayward has a consensus target price of $17.50, indicating a potential upside of 19.81%. Given Hayward’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Hayward is more favorable than Research Frontiers.

Profitability

This table compares Research Frontiers and Hayward’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Research Frontiers	-343.47%	-159.20%	-84.93%
Hayward	13.98%	11.45%	5.77%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Research Frontiers and Hayward”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Research Frontiers	$1.12 million	19.96	-$2.05 million	($0.07)	-9.16
Hayward	$1.12 billion	2.82	$151.57 million	$0.73	20.01

Hayward has higher revenue and earnings than Research Frontiers. Research Frontiers is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hayward, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Hayward beats Research Frontiers on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Research Frontiers

Research Frontiers Incorporated engages in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light worldwide. It develops and licenses suspended particle device (SPD-Smart) light-control technology to companies that manufacture and market the SPD-Smart chemical emulsion, light-control film made from the chemical emulsion, the light-control panels made by laminating the film, and electronics to power end-products incorporating the film, as well as lamination services for and the end-products, such as windows, skylights, and sunroofs. The company's SPD-Smart light-control technology is used in various product applications, including windows, sunshades, skylights, and interior partitions for homes and buildings; automotive windows, sunroofs, sun-visors, sunshades, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels, and navigation systems; aircraft windows; museum display panels, and eyewear products; and flat panel displays for electronic products. It serves architectural, automotive, marine, and aerospace and appliance applications. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Woodbury, New York.

About Hayward

Hayward Holdings, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets a portfolio of pool equipment and associated automation systems in North America, Europe, and internationally. The company offers pool equipment, including pumps, filters, robotics, suction and pressure cleaners, gas heaters and heat pumps, water features and landscape lighting, water sanitizers, salt chlorine generators, safety equipment, and in-floor automated cleaning systems, as well as LED illumination solutions. It sells its products through specialty distributors, retailers, and buying groups. The company was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.