LightPath Technologies (NASDAQ:LPTH – Get Rating) and Meta Materials (NASDAQ:MMAT – Get Rating) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, profitability and risk.
Volatility and Risk
LightPath Technologies has a beta of 1.69, meaning that its share price is 69% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Meta Materials has a beta of 2.02, meaning that its share price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Get LightPath Technologies alerts:Valuation & Earnings
This table compares LightPath Technologies and Meta Materials' top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| LightPath Technologies | $35.56 million | 0.86 | -$3.54 million | ($0.16) | -7.06 |
| Meta Materials | $4.08 million | 181.65 | -$91.00 million | -0.33 | -6.21 |
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for LightPath Technologies and Meta Materials, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| LightPath Technologies | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Meta Materials | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3.00 |
LightPath Technologies presently has a consensus price target of $2.85, suggesting a potential upside of 152.21%. Meta Materials has a consensus price target of 3.75, suggesting a potential upside of 82.93%. Given LightPath Technologies' higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe LightPath Technologies is more favorable than Meta Materials.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
28.9% of LightPath Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 14.1% of Meta Materials shares are held by institutional investors. 8.1% of LightPath Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 10.3% of Meta Materials shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares LightPath Technologies and Meta Materials' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| LightPath Technologies | -12.69% | -14.14% | -8.48% |
| Meta Materials | -845.99% | -25.59% | -20.32% |
Summary
LightPath Technologies beats Meta Materials on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About LightPath Technologies
(Get Rating)
LightPath Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes optical components and assemblies. The company offers precision molded glass aspheric optics, molded and diamond-turned infrared aspheric lenses, and other optical components used to produce products that manipulate light; and infrared products, including catalog and custom infrared optics. Its products are used in defense products, medical devices, laser aided industrial tools, automotive safety applications, barcode scanners, optical data storage, hybrid fiber coax datacom, telecommunications, machine vision and sensors, and other industries. The company sells its products directly to customers in North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as through catalog and distribution channels in the United States and internationally. LightPath Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
About Meta Materials
(Get Rating)
Meta Materials Inc. invents, designs, develops, and manufactures various functional materials and nanocomposites. Its products include metaAIR, a laser glare protection eyewear; NANOWEB, a transparent conductive film; holoOPTIX, a holographic optical element; glucoWISE, a non-invasive glucose measurement device; and metaSURFACE, which allows an enhancement in signal to noise ratio of up to 40 times for magnetic resonance imaging scans. The company also develops and produces nano-optic structures and color-shifting foils that are used in authentication and brand protection applications in various markets, including banknotes, secure government documents, and commercial branding, as well as engages in the research, development, and manufacture of smart materials. Its customers are OEM providers in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, consumer electronics, communications, energy, banknote and brand security, and medical devices. The company was formerly known as Torchlight Energy Resources, Inc. and changed its name to Meta Materials Inc. in June 2021. Meta Materials Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Dartmouth, Canada.
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