Impax Asset Management Group (IPX) Competitors

The European Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ESCT) and Impax Asset Management Group (LON:IPX) are both small-cap financial services companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, media sentiment, community ranking, earnings and institutional ownership.

Does the media refer more to ESCT or IPX?

In the previous week, The European Smaller Companies Trust had 2 more articles in the media than Impax Asset Management Group. MarketBeat recorded 2 mentions for The European Smaller Companies Trust and 0 mentions for Impax Asset Management Group. The European Smaller Companies Trust's average media sentiment score of 1.34 beat Impax Asset Management Group's score of 0.00 indicating that The European Smaller Companies Trust is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
The European Smaller Companies Trust	Positive
Impax Asset Management Group	Neutral

Is ESCT or IPX more profitable?

The European Smaller Companies Trust has a net margin of 87.06% compared to Impax Asset Management Group's net margin of 22.60%. Impax Asset Management Group's return on equity of 32.67% beat The European Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
The European Smaller Companies Trust	87.06%	10.91%	6.62%
Impax Asset Management Group	22.60%	32.67%	20.72%

Which has preferable valuation & earnings, ESCT or IPX?

The European Smaller Companies Trust has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Impax Asset Management Group. Impax Asset Management Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than The European Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
The European Smaller Companies Trust	£96.24M	7.77	£83.79M	£21.21	8.94
Impax Asset Management Group	£175.00M	1.08	£39.55M	£31.39	4.74

Which has more volatility & risk, ESCT or IPX?

The European Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.25, suggesting that its share price is 25% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Impax Asset Management Group has a beta of 1.64, suggesting that its share price is 64% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Do analysts rate ESCT or IPX?

Impax Asset Management Group has a consensus price target of GBX 330, suggesting a potential upside of 121.77%. Given Impax Asset Management Group's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Impax Asset Management Group is more favorable than The European Smaller Companies Trust.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
The European Smaller Companies Trust	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	0.00
Impax Asset Management Group	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	1 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00

Does the MarketBeat Community favor ESCT or IPX?

Impax Asset Management Group received 207 more outperform votes than The European Smaller Companies Trust when rated by MarketBeat users.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
The European Smaller Companies Trust	N/A	N/A
Impax Asset Management Group	Outperform Votes 207 79.01%	Underperform Votes 55 20.99%

Is ESCT or IPX a better dividend stock?

The European Smaller Companies Trust pays an annual dividend of GBX 5 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.6%. Impax Asset Management Group pays an annual dividend of GBX 28 per share and has a dividend yield of 18.8%. The European Smaller Companies Trust pays out 23.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Impax Asset Management Group pays out 89.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of ESCT or IPX?

34.1% of The European Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 66.5% of Impax Asset Management Group shares are held by institutional investors. 4.3% of The European Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 19.3% of Impax Asset Management Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Impax Asset Management Group beats The European Smaller Companies Trust on 12 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.