Carpenter Technology (CRS) Competitors

Carpenter Technology (NYSE:CRS) and L.B. Foster (NASDAQ:FSTR) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, institutional ownership, media sentiment, profitability and dividends.

Does the media refer more to CRS or FSTR?

In the previous week, Carpenter Technology had 15 more articles in the media than L.B. Foster. MarketBeat recorded 20 mentions for Carpenter Technology and 5 mentions for L.B. Foster. Carpenter Technology's average media sentiment score of 0.87 beat L.B. Foster's score of 0.69 indicating that Carpenter Technology is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Carpenter Technology	7 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	4 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive
L.B. Foster	1 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	3 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Which has more volatility and risk, CRS or FSTR?

Carpenter Technology has a beta of 1.52, suggesting that its share price is 52% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, L.B. Foster has a beta of 0.99, suggesting that its share price is 1% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Do insiders and institutionals hold more shares of CRS or FSTR?

92.0% of Carpenter Technology shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 80.6% of L.B. Foster shares are held by institutional investors. 2.9% of Carpenter Technology shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 4.7% of L.B. Foster shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Is CRS or FSTR a better dividend stock?

Carpenter Technology pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.3%. L.B. Foster pays an annual dividend of $0.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Carpenter Technology pays out 10.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. L.B. Foster pays out 4.8% 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. L.B. Foster is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Do analysts prefer CRS or FSTR?

Carpenter Technology currently has a consensus price target of $278.33, suggesting a potential upside of 11.24%. L.B. Foster has a consensus price target of $25.00, suggesting a potential downside of 7.24%. Given Carpenter Technology's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Carpenter Technology is more favorable than L.B. Foster.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Carpenter Technology	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	4 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.80
L.B. Foster	1 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	1.50

Is CRS or FSTR more profitable?

Carpenter Technology has a net margin of 13.07% compared to L.B. Foster's net margin of 7.19%. Carpenter Technology's return on equity of 21.50% beat L.B. Foster's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Carpenter Technology	13.07%	21.50%	11.28%
L.B. Foster	7.19%	3.64%	1.88%

Which has stronger valuation & earnings, CRS or FSTR?

Carpenter Technology has higher revenue and earnings than L.B. Foster. L.B. Foster is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Carpenter Technology, 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
Carpenter Technology	$2.88B	4.34	$376M	$7.42	33.72
L.B. Foster	$507.00M	0.56	$42.95M	$3.32	8.12

Summary

Carpenter Technology beats L.B. Foster on 15 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.