NPK International (NYSE:NPKI – Get Free Report) and QS Energy (OTCMKTS:QSEP – Get Free Report) are both small-cap oils/energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, valuation and analyst recommendations.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for NPK International and QS Energy, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| NPK International | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| QS Energy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
NPK International presently has a consensus target price of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 108.70%. Given NPK International’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe NPK International is more favorable than QS Energy.
Valuation and Earnings
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| NPK International | $217.49 million | 2.29 | $14.52 million | ($1.72) | -3.34 |
| QS Energy | N/A | N/A | -$1.22 million | N/A | N/A |
NPK International has higher revenue and earnings than QS Energy.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
80.8% of NPK International shares are held by institutional investors. 4.8% of NPK International shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.0% of QS Energy shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Volatility & Risk
NPK International has a beta of 2.89, indicating that its stock price is 189% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, QS Energy has a beta of -0.47, indicating that its stock price is 147% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares NPK International and QS Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| NPK International | -28.47% | 5.93% | 4.08% |
| QS Energy | N/A | N/A | -1,020.74% |
Summary
NPK International beats QS Energy on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.
About NPK International
NPK International Inc. provides products, rentals, and services primarily to the oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) industry. It operates through two segments, Fluids Systems and Industrial Solutions. The Fluids Systems segment provides drilling, completion, and stimulation fluids products and related technical services to customers primarily in the North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, as well as other countries in the Asia Pacific and Latin America. The Industrial Solutions segment offers composite matting system rentals utilized for temporary worksite access; related site construction and services to customers in various markets, including power transmission, E&P, pipeline, renewable energy, petrochemical, construction, and other industries primarily in the United States and Europe; recyclable composite mats to customers worldwide; and access road construction, site planning and preparation, environmental protection, erosion control, and site restoration services. The company was formerly known as Newpark Resources, Inc. and changed its name to NPK International Inc. in December 2024. The company was incorporated in 1932 and is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas.
About QS Energy
QS Energy, Inc. develops and commercializes energy efficiency technologies in the United States and internationally. The company’s energy efficiency technologies assist in meeting energy demands, enhancing the economics of oil transport, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The company’s primary technology comprises Applied Oil Technology, a commercial-grade crude oil pipeline transportation flow-assurance product that reduces crude oil viscosity by applying a high intensity electrical field to crude oil while in transit. It serves upstream and midstream energy sectors. The company was formerly known as Save the World Air, Inc. and changed its name to QS Energy, Inc. in August 2015. QS Energy, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Tomball, Texas.
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