Head-To-Head Analysis: MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) versus Three Sixty Solar (OTCMKTS:VSOLF)

MKS (NASDAQ:MKSI) and Three Sixty Solar (OTCMKTS:VSOLF) are both technology companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for MKS and Three Sixty Solar, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
MKS	1	2	12	1	2.81
Three Sixty Solar	0	0	0	0	0.00

MKS currently has a consensus price target of $385.00, suggesting a potential upside of 26.23%. Given MKS’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe MKS is more favorable than Three Sixty Solar.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares MKS and Three Sixty Solar”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
MKS	$3.93 billion	5.24	$295.00 million	$6.27	48.64
Three Sixty Solar	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

MKS has higher revenue and earnings than Three Sixty Solar.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

99.8% of MKS shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of MKS shares are owned 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.

Profitability

This table compares MKS and Three Sixty Solar’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
MKS	10.15%	24.72%	7.80%
Three Sixty Solar	N/A	N/A	N/A

Summary

MKS beats Three Sixty Solar on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MKS

MKS Instruments, Inc. provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments. The VSD segment provides foundational technology solutions, including pressure measurement and control, flow measurement and control, gas and vapor delivery, gas composition analysis, electronic control technology, reactive gas generation and delivery, power generation and delivery, and vacuum technology. The PSD segment offers range of solutions, which include lasers, beam measurement and profiling, precision motion control, vibration isolation systems, photonics instruments, temperature sensing, opto-mechanical components, optical elements, systems for flexible PCB laser processing, and laser-based systems, as well as high density interconnect PCB and package manufacturing. The MSD segment develops, process, and manufactures technologies comprising advanced surface modification, electroless and electrolytic plating, and surface finishing for chemistry, equipment, software, and services markets, as well as high-technology applications. In addition, the company sells its products and services through direct sales, network of independent distributors, and sales representatives, as well as websites, including product catalogs. The company was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts.

About Three Sixty Solar

Three Sixty Solar Ltd. designs, builds, and installs vertical solar array systems in Canada. It also offers solar towers for commercial projects and utility scale solar farms. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.