Copa (NYSE:CPA – Get Free Report) and Saker Aviation Services (OTCMKTS:SKAS – Get Free Report) are both transportation companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, dividends, risk, valuation, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.
Risk and Volatility
Copa has a beta of 0.9, suggesting that its stock price is 10% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Saker Aviation Services has a beta of -0.15, suggesting that its stock price is 115% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Copa and Saker Aviation Services’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Copa | 18.83% | 26.39% | 11.19% |
| Saker Aviation Services | 6.08% | -4.66% | -4.33% |
Earnings & Valuation
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Copa | $3.44 billion | 1.43 | $608.11 million | $16.08 | 7.44 |
| Saker Aviation Services | $9.17 million | 0.73 | $1.25 million | ($0.42) | -15.71 |
Copa has higher revenue and earnings than Saker Aviation Services. Saker Aviation Services is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Copa, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
70.1% of Copa shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 37.3% of Saker Aviation Services shares are owned by institutional investors. 34.6% of Saker Aviation Services shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Copa and Saker Aviation Services, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Copa | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3.00 |
| Saker Aviation Services | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Copa presently has a consensus price target of $159.43, indicating a potential upside of 33.33%. Given Copa’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Copa is more favorable than Saker Aviation Services.
Summary
Copa beats Saker Aviation Services on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Copa
Copa Holdings, S.A., through its subsidiaries, provides airline passenger and cargo services. The company offers approximately 375 daily scheduled flights to 82 destinations in 32 countries in North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean from its Panama City hub. As of December 31, 2023, it operated a fleet of 106 aircraft comprising 76 Boeing 737-Next Generation aircraft, 29 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, and one Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter. The company was founded in 1947 and is based in Panama City, Panama.
About Saker Aviation Services
Saker Aviation Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the aviation services segment of the general aviation industry in the United States. It serves as the operator of a Downtown Manhattan (New York) Heliport. The company was formerly known as FirstFlight, Inc. and changed its name to Saker Aviation Services, Inc. in September 2009. Saker Aviation Services, Inc. is headquartered in New York, New York.
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