Moog (NYSE:MOG.A – Get Free Report) and Astrotech (NASDAQ:ASTC – Get Free Report) are both aerospace companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and dividends.
Volatility and Risk
Moog has a beta of 0.96, suggesting that its stock price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Astrotech has a beta of 4.77, suggesting that its stock price is 377% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
88.0% of Moog shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 24.4% of Astrotech shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of Moog shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 16.8% of Astrotech shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Valuation & Earnings
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Moog | $3.86 billion | 3.22 | $235.03 million | $8.89 | 44.16 |
| Astrotech | $1.05 million | 13.25 | -$13.85 million | ($8.41) | -0.92 |
Moog has higher revenue and earnings than Astrotech. Astrotech is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Moog, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Moog and Astrotech, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Moog | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3.50 |
| Astrotech | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Moog presently has a consensus target price of $450.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.63%. Given Moog’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Moog is more favorable than Astrotech.
Profitability
This table compares Moog and Astrotech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Moog | 6.83% | 16.11% | 7.15% |
| Astrotech | -1,397.82% | -81.85% | -65.46% |
Summary
Moog beats Astrotech on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Moog
Moog Inc. designs, manufactures, and integrates precision motion and fluid controls and controls systems for original equipment manufacturers and end users in the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets worldwide. The company's Aircrafts Controls segment offers primary and secondary flight controls for military and commercial aircrafts; aftermarket support services; and ground-based navigation aids. Its Space and Defense Controls segment provides controls for satellites, space vehicles, launch vehicles, armored combat vehicles, tactical and strategic missiles, security and surveillance, and other defense applications; and gun aiming, stabilization, and automatic ammunition loading for armored combat vehicles. This segment also offers controls for steering tactical and strategic missiles, and naval surface ships and submarines; and weapons stores management systems for light attack aerial reconnaissance, ground, and sea platforms, as well as slip rings, fiber optic rotary joints, and motors. The company's Industrial Systems segment provides components and systems for applications in injection and blow molding machinery, metal forming presses, and heavy industry customers in steel and aluminum production; supplies electromechanical motion simulation bases for the flight simulation and training applications; and supplies solutions for power generation applications, as well as custom test systems and controls for automotive, structural, and fatigue testing. This segment also offers systems and components for applications in oil and gas exploration and production; components for wind turbine applications; components and systems for diagnostic imaging CT scan medical equipment, sleep apnea equipment, oxygen concentrators, infusion therapy, and enteral clinical nutrition; and hydraulics, slip rings, rotary unions and fiber optic rotary joints, motors, and infusion and enteral pumps. The company was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in East Aurora, New York.
About Astrotech
Astrotech Corporation operates as a mass spectrometry company worldwide. It owns and licenses the intellectual property related to the Astrotech Mass Spectrometer Technology, a platform mass spectrometry technology. The company also develops TRACER 1000, a mass spectrometer-based explosive trace detector to replace the explosives trace detectors used at airports, cargo and other secured facilities, and borders. In addition, it develops AgLAB-1000, a mass spectrometer for use in the hemp and cannabis market. Further, the company develops BreathTest-1000, a breath analysis tool to screen for volatile organic compound metabolites found in a person's breath. The company was formerly known as SPACEHAB, Inc. and changed its name to Astrotech Corporation in 2009. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is based in Austin, Texas.
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