Contrasting Mannatech (NASDAQ:MTEX) & Solesence (NASDAQ:SLSN)

Solesence (NASDAQ:SLSN) and Mannatech (NASDAQ:MTEX) are both small-cap consumer staples companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Solesence and Mannatech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Solesence	-3.40%	-11.58%	-3.79%
Mannatech	-6.90%	-2,383.34%	-24.43%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Solesence and Mannatech, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Solesence	1	0	0	0	1.00
Mannatech	1	0	0	0	1.00

Insider and Institutional Ownership

70.2% of Solesence shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.0% of Mannatech shares are held by institutional investors. 4.8% of Solesence shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 47.5% of Mannatech shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Solesence and Mannatech”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Solesence	$55.37 million	1.12	$1.79 million	($0.03)	-29.20
Mannatech	$107.36 million	0.16	-$15.21 million	($3.91)	-2.25

Solesence has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Mannatech. Solesence is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mannatech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility and Risk

Solesence has a beta of 1.27, indicating that its share price is 27% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mannatech has a beta of 0.75, indicating that its share price is 25% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Solesence beats Mannatech on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Solesence

Nanophase Technologies Corporation provides engineered materials, formulation development, and commercial manufacturing with an integrated family of technologies in the United States. It offers surface engineered zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for sunscreens and personal care products; fully formulated cosmetics, sun care, and skin care under the Solésence brand name; and advanced materials products, such as architectural coatings, industrial coatings, abrasion-resistant additives, plastics additives, medical diagnostics, and various surface finishing technologies applications. The company was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Romeoville, Illinois.

About Mannatech

Mannatech, Incorporated operates as a health and wellness company in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company develops, markets, and sells nutritional supplements; topical and skin care, and anti-aging products; and weight-management and fitness products. It primarily sells its products directly, as well as through e-commerce and network marketing channels. Mannatech, Incorporated was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas.