Head to Head Comparison: Energous (NASDAQ:WATT) & United Microelectronics (NYSE:UMC)

United Microelectronics (NYSE:UMC) and Energous (NASDAQ:WATT) are both technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, risk, earnings, profitability and institutional ownership.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

5.1% of United Microelectronics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.3% of Energous shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.0% of United Microelectronics shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Energous shares are owned by company 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.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares United Microelectronics and Energous”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
United Microelectronics	$250.71 billion	0.24	$1.29 billion	$1.07	22.72
Energous	$5.63 million	13.70	-$9.59 million	($2.21)	-6.31

United Microelectronics has higher revenue and earnings than Energous. Energous is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than United Microelectronics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares United Microelectronics and Energous’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
United Microelectronics	33.18%	21.00%	13.87%
Energous	-76.37%	-28.67%	-24.91%

Volatility & Risk

United Microelectronics has a beta of 1.59, suggesting that its stock price is 59% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Energous has a beta of 1.56, suggesting that its stock price is 56% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for United Microelectronics and Energous, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
United Microelectronics	3	1	1	1	2.00
Energous	1	1	0	0	1.50

United Microelectronics presently has a consensus target price of $8.60, suggesting a potential downside of 64.63%. Given United Microelectronics’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe United Microelectronics is more favorable than Energous.

Summary

United Microelectronics beats Energous on 14 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About United Microelectronics

United Microelectronics Corporation operates as a semiconductor wafer foundry in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company provides circuit design, mask tooling, wafer fabrication, and assembly and testing services. It serves fabless design companies and integrated device manufacturers. United Microelectronics Corporation was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Hsinchu City, Taiwan.

About Energous

Energous Corporation provides wireless charging system solutions in the United States. The company develops WattUp wireless power networks technology that consists of semiconductor chipsets; software controls; hardware designs; and antennas that enables radio frequency-based charging for Internet of Things devices. Its products are used in asset trackers; sensors; retail displays; and security devices; smart home; medical; industrial; and other sensors; electronic shelf labeling; logistics and asset tracking tags and sensors; computer mice and keyboards; remote controls; gaming consoles and controllers; hearing aids; rechargeable batteries; automotive accessories; smart textiles; wearables; and medical devices. The company was formerly known as DvineWave Inc. and changed its name to Energous Corporation in January 2014. Energous Corporation was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in San Jose; California.