Optex Systems (NASDAQ:OPXS – Get Free Report) and Spirit Aerosystems (NYSE:SPR – Get Free Report) are both aerospace companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, dividends and valuation.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
19.1% of Optex Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 93.6% of Spirit Aerosystems shares are held by institutional investors. 30.3% of Optex Systems shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.8% of Spirit Aerosystems shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Optex Systems and Spirit Aerosystems, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Optex Systems | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Spirit Aerosystems | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2.20 |
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Optex Systems and Spirit Aerosystems”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Optex Systems | $39.48 million | 2.25 | $3.77 million | $0.75 | 17.16 |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $6.39 billion | 0.64 | -$2.14 billion | ($22.11) | -1.57 |
Optex Systems has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Spirit Aerosystems. Spirit Aerosystems is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Optex Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Optex Systems and Spirit Aerosystems’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Optex Systems | 13.01% | 24.67% | 19.20% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | -37.46% | N/A | -26.28% |
Dividends
Optex Systems pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Spirit Aerosystems pays an annual dividend of $0.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.1%. Optex Systems pays out 10.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Spirit Aerosystems pays out -0.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.
Volatility and Risk
Optex Systems has a beta of 0.45, suggesting that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Spirit Aerosystems has a beta of 1.7, suggesting that its stock price is 70% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Optex Systems beats Spirit Aerosystems on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Optex Systems
Optex Systems Holdings, Inc manufactures and sells optical sighting systems and assemblies primarily for the U.S. department of defense, foreign military applications, and commercial markets in the United States. It offers periscopes, such as laser and non-laser protected plastic and glass periscopes, electronic M17 day/thermal periscopes, and vision blocks; sighting systems, including back up sights, digital day and night sighting systems, M36 thermal periscope, unity mirrors, optical weapon system support and maintenance, commander weapon station sights, and sight assembly refurbishments; howitzers comprising M137 telescope, M187 mount, M119 aiming device, XM10 and aiming circles; and applied optics center consisting of laser interference filter, optical assemblies, laser filter units, day windows, and specialty thin film coatings, as well as other products, such as muzzle reference systems, binoculars, collimators, optical lenses and elements, and windows. The company also provides various periscope configurations, rifle and surveillance sights, and night vision optical assemblies. Its products are installed on various types of U.S. military land vehicles, such as the Abrams, Bradley, and Stryker families of fighting vehicles, as well as light armored and armored security vehicles. The company offers its products directly to the federal government, prime contractors, and foreign governments. Optex Systems Holdings, Inc was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Richardson, Texas. Optex Systems Holdings, Inc is a subsidiary of Sileas Corporation.
About Spirit Aerosystems
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. engages in the design, engineering, manufacture, and marketing of commercial aerostructures worldwide. It operates through three segments: Commercial, Defense & Space, and Aftermarket. The Commercial segment offers forward, mid, and rear fuselage sections and systems, floor beams, nacelles, struts/pylons, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, flaps and slats flight control surfaces, wing structures, and wing systems. This segment primarily serves commercial and business/regional jet programs. The Defense & Space segment engages in the fabrication, bonding, assembly, testing, tooling, processing, engineering analysis, and training on fuselage, strut, nacelle, and wing aerostructures; provision of missiles and hypersonics solutions, such as solid rocket motor throats, nozzles, re-entry vehicle thermal protections systems; forward cockpit and cabin, and fuselage work on rotorcraft aerostructures; and classified programs. This segment primarily serves U.S. Government defense programs. The Aftermarket segment provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services; fuselage, strut, nacelle, and wing aerostructures spare parts; repair services for radome, flight control surfaces, and nacelles; rotable assets trading and leasing; and engineering services. This segment primarily serves both commercial and defense and space programs. The company was formerly known as Mid-Western Aircraft Systems Holdings, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1927 and is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.
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