Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH – Get Free Report) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI – Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, risk, profitability and dividends.
Profitability
This table compares Enphase Energy and Ascent Solar Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Enphase Energy | 12.93% | 25.67% | 7.03% |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | N/A | -239.69% | -111.53% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Enphase Energy and Ascent Solar Technologies”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Enphase Energy | $1.33 billion | 3.18 | $102.66 million | $1.45 | 22.31 |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | $40,000.00 | 388.02 | -$9.13 million | ($2.92) | -1.53 |
Enphase Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Ascent Solar Technologies. Ascent Solar Technologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Enphase Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Enphase Energy and Ascent Solar Technologies, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Enphase Energy | 13 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 1.73 |
| Ascent Solar Technologies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Enphase Energy presently has a consensus price target of $39.75, indicating a potential upside of 22.87%. Given Enphase Energy’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Enphase Energy is more favorable than Ascent Solar Technologies.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
72.1% of Enphase Energy shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 3.1% of Enphase Energy shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 10.2% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Volatility and Risk
Enphase Energy has a beta of 1.43, indicating that its share price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 2.79, indicating that its share price is 179% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Enphase Energy beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Enphase Energy
Enphase Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells home energy solutions for the solar photovoltaic industry in the United States and internationally. The company offers semiconductor-based microinverter, which converts energy at the individual solar module level and combines with its proprietary networking and software technologies to provide energy monitoring and control. It also provides microinverter units and related accessories, an IQ gateway; IQ batteries; the cloud-based Enlighten monitoring service; storage solutions; and electric vehicle charging solutions, as well as design, proposal, permitting, and lead generation services. The company sells its solutions to solar distributors; and directly to large installers, original equipment manufacturers, strategic partners, and homeowners, as well as through its legacy product upgrade program or online store. Enphase Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Fremont, California.
About Ascent Solar Technologies
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar technology company, engages in the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar modules in the United States. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. It serves agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.
Receive News & Ratings for Enphase Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enphase Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
