Head to Head Comparison: Ecovyst (NYSE:ECVT) and Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE)

Ecovyst (NYSE:ECVT) and Green Plains (NASDAQ:GPRE) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Ecovyst and Green Plains”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ecovyst	$723.50 million	1.81	-$71.13 million	($0.62)	-19.14
Green Plains	$2.09 billion	0.51	-$121.28 million	($1.89)	-8.13

Ecovyst has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Green Plains. Ecovyst is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Green Plains, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Ecovyst has a beta of 1.17, suggesting that its stock price is 17% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Green Plains has a beta of 1.46, suggesting that its stock price is 46% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Ecovyst and Green Plains, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ecovyst	1	1	4	0	2.50
Green Plains	2	4	3	0	2.11

Ecovyst presently has a consensus target price of $13.60, suggesting a potential upside of 14.62%. Green Plains has a consensus target price of $13.14, suggesting a potential downside of 14.49%. Given Ecovyst’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Ecovyst is more favorable than Green Plains.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

86.7% of Ecovyst shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of Ecovyst shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of Green Plains shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Ecovyst and Green Plains’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ecovyst	-9.27%	9.39%	3.71%
Green Plains	-5.80%	-8.70%	-4.21%

Summary

Ecovyst beats Green Plains on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ecovyst

Ecovyst Inc. offers specialty catalysts and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Ecoservices and Advanced Materials & Catalysts. The Ecoservices segment provides sulfuric acid recycling services and end-to-end logistics for production of alkylate for refineries; and virgin sulfuric acid for mining, water treatment, and industrial applications. The Advanced Materials & Catalysts segment offers advanced materials and specialty catalyst products and process solutions to producers and licensors of polyethylene and advanced silicas. This segment also supplies specialty zeolites and zeolite-based catalysts to customers for refining of oil primarily hydrocracking catalyst and dewaxing, sustainable fuels, and emission control systems for both on-road and non-road diesel engines. 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 Green Plains

Green Plains Inc. produces low-carbon fuels in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Ethanol Production, Agribusiness and Energy Services, and Partnership. The Ethanol Production segment produces ethanol, distillers grains, and ultra-high protein and renewable corn oil. The Agribusiness and Energy Services segment engages in the grain procurement, handling and storage, commodity marketing business; and trading of ethanol, distiller grains, renewable corn oil, grain, natural gas, and other commodities in various markets. This segment also provides grain drying and storage services to grain producers. The Partnership segment offers fuel storage and transportation services. It operates 24 ethanol storage facilities; two fuel terminal facilities; and a fleet of approximately 2,180 leased railcars. The company was formerly known as Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. and changed its name to Green Plains Inc. in May 2014. Green Plains Inc. was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.