Critical Analysis: National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) vs. Kirin (OTCMKTS:KNBWY)

National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) and Kirin (OTCMKTS:KNBWY) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings, dividends and analyst recommendations.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares National Beverage and Kirin”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
National Beverage	$1.18 billion	2.66	$183.65 million	$1.86	18.03
Kirin	$16.28 billion	0.90	$988.53 million	$1.57	11.54

Kirin has higher revenue and earnings than National Beverage. Kirin is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than National Beverage, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for National Beverage and Kirin, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
National Beverage	2	0	0	0	1.00
Kirin	0	1	0	0	2.00

National Beverage currently has a consensus target price of $31.00, indicating a potential downside of 7.57%. Given National Beverage’s higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe National Beverage is more favorable than Kirin.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

23.9% of National Beverage shares are held by institutional investors. 74.7% of National Beverage shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility & Risk

National Beverage has a beta of 0.87, suggesting that its stock price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kirin has a beta of 0.01, suggesting that its stock price is 99% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares National Beverage and Kirin’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
National Beverage	14.81%	32.61%	23.51%
Kirin	7.79%	12.22%	5.70%

Summary

National Beverage beats Kirin on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About National Beverage

National Beverage Corp., through its subsidiaries, develops, produces, markets, and sells a portfolio of sparkling waters, juices, energy drinks, and carbonated soft drinks primarily in the United States and Canada. The company's Power+ brand portfolio offers sparkling water products under the LaCroix, LaCroix Cúrate, and LaCroix NiCola; non-carbonated flavored water under the Clear Fruit; energy drink and shots under the Rip It; juice and juice-based products under Everfresh, Everfresh Premier Varietals, and Mr. Pure; and carbonated soft drinks under Shasta and Faygo brands. It serves retailers, as well as various smaller up-and-down-the-street accounts through the take-home, convenience, and food-service distribution channels. National Beverage Corp. was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

About Kirin

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited engages in food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and health science businesses. The company's products include beer, wine, whiskey, spirits, soft drinks, dairy products, and other products. It also produces and sells pharmaceutical products, biochemical products, and other products. In addition, the company engages in the factories and theme park businesses; management and operation of a chain of Kirin City beer pubs; and manufacture and sale of amino acids and nucleic acids for pharmaceutical and industrial use bulk pharmaceuticals, as well as margarine, jams, and honey. Further, it is involved in the manufacture and sale of Coca-Cola products and other soft drinks; manufacture of Four Roses bourbon; transport logistic services; shared services, such as accounting, human resources, and real estate; Internal information system development; sales of feed; insurance agent; and sales of the supplements; research, development, manufacture, and sale of cosmetics and health foods. The company was formerly known as Kirin Brewery Company, Limited and changed its name to Kirin Holdings Company, Limited in July 2007. Kirin Holdings Company, Limited was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.