Contrasting Hillman Solutions (NASDAQ:HLMN) and Albany International (NYSE:AIN)
by Sarita Garza · The Markets DailyAlbany International (NYSE:AIN – Get Free Report) and Hillman Solutions (NASDAQ:HLMN – Get Free Report) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.
Volatility & Risk
Albany International has a beta of 1.16, suggesting that its share price is 16% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hillman Solutions has a beta of 1.38, suggesting that its share price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Albany International and Hillman Solutions’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Albany International | -4.18% | 10.76% | 4.64% |
| Hillman Solutions | 2.57% | 9.11% | 4.70% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Albany International and Hillman Solutions, as reported by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Albany International | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.80 |
| Hillman Solutions | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.25 |
Albany International currently has a consensus target price of $61.00, indicating a potential upside of 2.38%. Hillman Solutions has a consensus target price of $12.67, indicating a potential upside of 81.47%. Given Hillman Solutions’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Hillman Solutions is more favorable than Albany International.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Albany International and Hillman Solutions”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Albany International | $1.18 billion | 1.43 | -$57.34 million | ($1.74) | -34.24 |
| Hillman Solutions | $1.55 billion | 0.87 | $40.31 million | $0.22 | 31.73 |
Hillman Solutions has higher revenue and earnings than Albany International. Albany International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hillman Solutions, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
97.4% of Albany International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.1% of Hillman Solutions shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Albany International shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 5.3% of Hillman Solutions shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Hillman Solutions beats Albany International on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Albany International
Albany International Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the machine clothing and engineered composites businesses. The company operates in two segments, Machine Clothing (MC) and Albany Engineered Composites (AEC). The MC segment designs, manufactures, and markets paper machine clothing for use in the manufacturing of papers, paperboards, tissues, towels, pulps, nonwovens, building products, tannery, and textiles, as well as fiber cement and several other industrial applications. This segment offers paper machine clothing forming, pressing, and drying fabrics, as well as engineered processing belts; and engineered fabrics. The AEC segment 3D-woven and injected composite components for aircraft engines composite airframe and engine components for military and commercial aircraft. It operates in the United States, Switzerland, France, Brazil, China, Mexico, Germany, and internationally. The company was incorporated in 1895 and is headquartered in Rochester, New Hampshire.
About Hillman Solutions
Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hillman is a leading North American provider of complete hardware solutions, delivered with industry best customer service to over 40,000 locations. Hillman designs innovative product and merchandising solutions for complex categories that deliver an outstanding customer experience to home improvement centers, mass merchants, national and regional hardware stores, pet supply stores, and OEM & Industrial customers. Leveraging a world-class distribution and sales network, Hillman delivers a “small business” experience with “big business” efficiency.