Ecovyst (NYSE:ECVT – Get Rating) and Standard Lithium (OTCMKTS:SLI – Get Rating) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and risk.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Ecovyst and Standard Lithium's top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Get Ecovyst alerts:| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Ecovyst | $611.20 million | 1.89 | -$139.95 million | $0.42 | 21.17 |
| Standard Lithium | N/A | N/A | -$30.10 million | ($0.20) | -17.95 |
Standard Lithium has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Ecovyst. Standard Lithium is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ecovyst, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Volatility & Risk
Ecovyst has a beta of 0.87, suggesting that its stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Standard Lithium has a beta of 2.16, suggesting that its stock price is 116% more volatile than the S&P 500.Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of current recommendations for Ecovyst and Standard Lithium, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Ecovyst | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2.75 |
| Standard Lithium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Ecovyst presently has a consensus target price of $13.50, suggesting a potential upside of 51.86%. Given Ecovyst's higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Ecovyst is more favorable than Standard Lithium.
Profitability
This table compares Ecovyst and Standard Lithium's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Ecovyst | 6.96% | 12.58% | 4.90% |
| Standard Lithium | N/A | -25.32% | -24.66% |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
75.7% of Ecovyst shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 19.5% of Standard Lithium shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.1% of Ecovyst shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Ecovyst beats Standard Lithium on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Ecovyst
(Get Rating)
Ecovyst Inc. provides specialty catalysts and services in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Ecoservices and Catalyst Technologies. The Ecoservices segment offers sulfuric acid recycling services for production of alkylate for refineries; and virgin sulfuric acid for mining, water treatment, and industrial applications. The Catalyst Technologies segment provides customized catalyst products and process solutions to producers and licensors of polyethylene and methyl methacrylate. Its catalyst supports the production of plastics used in packaging films, bottles, containers, and other molded applications. This segment also provides zeolite-based emission control catalysts, which enable the removal of nitrogen oxides from diesel engine emissions, as well as sulfur dioxide from fuels during the refining process. The company was formerly known as PQ Group Holdings Inc. and changed its name to Ecovyst Inc. in August 2021. Ecovyst Inc. was founded in 1831 and is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
About Standard Lithium
(Get Rating)
Standard Lithium Ltd. explores for, develops, and processes lithium brine properties in the United States. Its flagship project is the Lanxess project with approximately 150,000 acres of brine leases located in southern Arkansas. The company was formerly known as Patriot Petroleum Corp. and changed its name to Standard Lithium Ltd. in December 2016. Standard Lithium Ltd. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
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