NetScout Systems (NTCT) Competitors

NetScout Systems (NASDAQ:NTCT) and ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ:ACIW) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, media sentiment, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and institutional ownership.

Which has more risk and volatility, NTCT or ACIW?

NetScout Systems has a beta of 0.72, suggesting that its stock price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ACI Worldwide has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Do analysts prefer NTCT or ACIW?

NetScout Systems currently has a consensus target price of $29.00, indicating a potential upside of 9.23%. ACI Worldwide has a consensus target price of $60.00, indicating a potential upside of 11.90%. Given ACI Worldwide's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ACI Worldwide is more favorable than NetScout Systems.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
NetScout Systems	1 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.33
ACI Worldwide	0 Sell rating(s)	2 Hold rating(s)	3 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.60

Which has preferable earnings & valuation, NTCT or ACIW?

ACI Worldwide has higher revenue and earnings than NetScout Systems. ACI Worldwide is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NetScout Systems, 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
NetScout Systems	$822.68M	2.32	-$366.92M	$1.00	26.55
ACI Worldwide	$1.70B	3.25	$203.12M	$2.37	22.62

Does the media refer more to NTCT or ACIW?

In the previous week, ACI Worldwide had 6 more articles in the media than NetScout Systems. MarketBeat recorded 7 mentions for ACI Worldwide and 1 mentions for NetScout Systems. NetScout Systems' average media sentiment score of 1.08 beat ACI Worldwide's score of 0.76 indicating that NetScout Systems is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
NetScout Systems	1 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive
ACI Worldwide	3 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	3 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Is NTCT or ACIW more profitable?

ACI Worldwide has a net margin of 14.76% compared to NetScout Systems' net margin of 8.72%. ACI Worldwide's return on equity of 19.09% beat NetScout Systems' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
NetScout Systems	8.72%	7.47%	5.30%
ACI Worldwide	14.76%	19.09%	8.63%

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of NTCT or ACIW?

91.6% of NetScout Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 94.7% of ACI Worldwide shares are held by institutional investors. 3.8% of NetScout Systems shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of ACI Worldwide shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

ACI Worldwide beats NetScout Systems on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.