Financial Review: Middleby (NASDAQ:MIDD) and Cleantech Solutions International (OTCMKTS:SEII)

Middleby (NASDAQ:MIDD) and Cleantech Solutions International (OTCMKTS:SEII) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings and valuation.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Middleby and Cleantech Solutions International”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Middleby	$3.20 billion	1.89	-$277.73 million	($8.48)	-15.79
Cleantech Solutions International	N/A	N/A	-$20,000.00	N/A	N/A

Cleantech Solutions International has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Middleby.

Volatility and Risk

Middleby has a beta of 1.33, suggesting that its share price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cleantech Solutions International has a beta of 3.31, suggesting that its share price is 231% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Middleby and Cleantech Solutions International’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Middleby	-11.46%	15.94%	7.34%
Cleantech Solutions International	N/A	-0.83%	-0.64%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

98.5% of Middleby shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.6% of Cleantech Solutions International shares are held by institutional investors. 9.7% of Middleby shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.1% of Cleantech Solutions International shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Middleby and Cleantech Solutions International, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Middleby	1	3	6	0	2.50
Cleantech Solutions International	0	0	0	0	0.00

Middleby currently has a consensus price target of $173.88, indicating a potential upside of 29.87%. Given Middleby’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Middleby is more favorable than Cleantech Solutions International.

Summary

Middleby beats Cleantech Solutions International on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Middleby

The Middleby Corporation designs, markets, manufactures, distributes, and services foodservice, food processing, and residential kitchen equipment worldwide. Its Commercial Foodservice Equipment Group segment offers conveyor, combi, convection, baking, proofing, deck, speed cooking, and hydrovection ovens; ranges, fryers, and rethermalizers; steam cooking, food warming, catering, induction cooking, and countertop cooking equipment; heated cabinets, charbroilers, ventless cooking systems, kitchen ventilation, toasters, griddles, charcoal grills, professional mixers, stainless steel fabrication, custom millwork, professional refrigerators, blast chillers, cold rooms, ice machines, and freezers; soft serve ice cream, coffee and beverage dispensing, home and professional craft brewing equipment; and fry dispensers, bottle filling and canning equipment, IoT solutions, and controls development and manufacturing. The company's Food Processing Equipment Group segment provides batch, baking, proofing, conveyor belt, and continuous processing ovens; frying and automated thermal processing systems; tumblers, massagers, grinders, slicers, reduction and emulsion systems, mixers, and blenders; battering, breading, and seeding equipment; water cutting systems, food presses, food suspension equipment, filling and depositing solutions, and forming equipment; and automated washing systems, auto-guided vehicles, food safety, food handling, freezing, and defrosting and packaging equipment. Its Residential Kitchen Equipment Group segment offers kitchen equipment comprising cookers, stoves, cooktops, microwaves, ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, undercounter refrigeration, wine cellars, ice machines, beer dispensers, mixers, rotisseries, and ventilation and outdoor cooking equipment. The company was formerly known as Middleby Marshall Oven Company and changed its name to The Middleby Corporation in 1985. The company was founded in 1888 and is based in Elgin, Illinois.

About Cleantech Solutions International

Sharing Economy International Inc. focuses on the development of sharing economy platforms and related rental businesses. The company operates rental stations that offer power banks for mobile charging on-demand and other items; and provision of consulting and office support services. It also engages in the real estate and property management businesses; provision of management services; online media and advertising business; and production of films. In addition, the company develops and operates a sharing economy mobile platform for courier services; develops an interactive virtual tour of a physical space using a mobile phone camera; operates online platforms; and operates a bike sharing mobile app, as well as provides licensing services. Sharing Economy International Inc. was formerly known as Cleantech Solutions International, Inc. and changed its name to Sharing Economy International Inc. in January 2018. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is based in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.