Just Energy Group (NYSE:JE) and Consolidated Communications (NASDAQ:CNSL) are both small-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, dividends and earnings.
Risk & Volatility
Just Energy Group has a beta of 1.43, suggesting that its share price is 43% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Consolidated Communications has a beta of 1.38, suggesting that its share price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
16.4% of Just Energy Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 67.9% of Consolidated Communications shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Consolidated Communications shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Just Energy Group and Consolidated Communications, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score |
---|
Just Energy Group | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.40 |
Consolidated Communications | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
Just Energy Group presently has a consensus target price of $2.0667, indicating a potential downside of 44.89%. Consolidated Communications has a consensus target price of $7.00, indicating a potential upside of 25.00%. Given Consolidated Communications' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Consolidated Communications is more favorable than Just Energy Group.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Just Energy Group and Consolidated Communications' gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio |
---|
Just Energy Group | $2.08 billion | 0.09 | $-232,750,000.00 | N/A | N/A |
Consolidated Communications | $1.34 billion | 0.33 | $-20,380,000.00 | N/A | N/A |
Consolidated Communications has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Just Energy Group.
Profitability
This table compares Just Energy Group and Consolidated Communications' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets |
---|
Just Energy Group | -3.10% | -26.85% | 7.54% |
Consolidated Communications | 2.90% | 11.62% | 1.26% |
Summary
Consolidated Communications beats Just Energy Group on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.