Reviewing Aspen Aerogels (NYSE:ASPN) and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (OTCMKTS:CODYY)

Aspen Aerogels (NYSE:ASPN) and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain (OTCMKTS:CODYY) are both construction companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Aspen Aerogels and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Aspen Aerogels	0	3	7	1	2.82
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain	0	3	0	1	2.50

Aspen Aerogels presently has a consensus price target of $18.44, indicating a potential upside of 137.53%. Given Aspen Aerogels’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Aspen Aerogels is more favorable than Compagnie de Saint-Gobain.

Profitability

This table compares Aspen Aerogels and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Aspen Aerogels	-65.47%	6.69%	4.39%
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain	N/A	N/A	N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

97.6% of Aspen Aerogels shares are held by institutional investors. 4.3% of Aspen Aerogels shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Aspen Aerogels and Compagnie de Saint-Gobain”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Aspen Aerogels	$452.70 million	1.41	$13.38 million	($3.49)	-2.22
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain	$50.40 billion	1.20	$3.08 billion	N/A	N/A

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain has higher revenue and earnings than Aspen Aerogels.

Summary

Aspen Aerogels beats Compagnie de Saint-Gobain on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Aspen Aerogels

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and sells aerogel insulation products primarily for use in the energy infrastructure and sustainable insulation materials markets in the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe, and Latin America. It operates in two segments, Energy Industrial and Thermal Barrier. The company offers PyroThin thermal barriers for use in lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage industries; Pyrogel XTE that reduces the risk of corrosion under insulation in energy infrastructure operating systems; and Pyrogel HPS for applications within the power generation market. It also offers Pyrogel XTF to provide protection against fire; Cryogel Z for sub-ambient and cryogenic applications in the energy infrastructure market; Spaceloft Subsea for use in pipe-in-pipe applications in offshore oil production; and Cryogel X201, which is used in designing cold systems, such as refrigerated appliances, cold storage equipment, and aerospace systems. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Northborough, Massachusetts.

About Compagnie de Saint-Gobain

Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. designs, manufactures, and distributes materials and solutions for the construction and industrial markets worldwide. It operates through five segments: High Performance Solutions; Northern Europe; Southern Europe Middle East (ME) & Africa; Americas; and Asia-Pacific. The company offers glazing solutions for buildings and vehicles under the Saint-Gobain, GlassSolutions, Vetrotech, and SageGlass brands; plaster-based products for construction and renovation markets under the Placo, Rigips, and Gyproc brands; ceilings under the Ecophon, CertainTeed, Eurocoustic, Sonex, and Vinh Tuong brands; and insulation solutions for a range of applications, such as construction, engine compartments, vehicle interiors, household appliances, and photovoltaic panels under the Isover, CertainTeed, and Izocam brands. It also provides mortars and construction chemicals under the Weber, Chryso, and GCP brands; exterior products comprising asphalt and composite shingles, solar roofing solutions, roll roofing systems, and accessories under the CertainTeed and Brasilit brands; and pipes under the PAM brand, as well as abrasives, adhesives, sealants, tapes, composites, and films. In addition, the company provides interior and exterior systems for construction and housing sectors; ceramics under the SEFPRO brand; polymer shakes and shingle, and insulation cladding solutions; and barriers, terraces, and balustrades. Further, it distributes heavy building materials; plumbing, heating, ventilation, and sanitaryware products; timber and byproducts; bathrooms and kitchens; and site equipment, PPEs, and tools. The company was founded in 1665 and is headquartered in Courbevoie, France.