Analyzing Zentek (NASDAQ:ZTEK) and NEC (OTCMKTS:NIPNF)
by Mitch Edgeman · The Markets DailyZentek (NASDAQ:ZTEK – Get Free Report) and NEC (OTCMKTS:NIPNF – Get Free Report) are both technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, valuation, earnings and institutional ownership.
Volatility and Risk
Zentek has a beta of 0.4, suggesting that its share price is 60% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, NEC has a beta of -0.47, suggesting that its share price is 147% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Zentek and NEC’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Zentek | -5,848.76% | -70.93% | -52.26% |
| NEC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Zentek and NEC”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Zentek | $108,251.00 | 575.49 | -$7.07 million | ($0.07) | -7.03 |
| NEC | $25.69 billion | 0.29 | $412.83 million | $1.64 | 17.32 |
NEC has higher revenue and earnings than Zentek. Zentek is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NEC, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Zentek and NEC, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Zentek | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| NEC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
Insider and Institutional Ownership
0.8% of Zentek shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Summary
NEC beats Zentek on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Zentek
Zentek Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development of graphene and related nanomaterials in Canada. The company develops graphene-based antimicrobial coating under the ZenGUARD brand, surgical masks, HVAC filters, personal protective equipment, rapid detection point of care diagnostics tests, and pharmaceutical products based on graphene-based compounds. It is also developing graphene oxide synthesis and graphene synthesis. In addition, the company owns 100% interest in the Albany graphite project located in Northern Ontario, Canada. The company was formerly known as ZEN Graphene Solutions Ltd. and changed its name to Zentek Ltd. in October 2021. Zentek Ltd. was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Guelph, Canada.
About NEC
NEC Corporation provides information and communication technology solutions in Japan and internationally. It operates through five segments: Public Solutions Business, Public Infrastructure Business, Enterprise Business, Network Services Business, and Global Business. It provides systems integration services, including systems implementation and consulting; maintenance and support services; outsourcing and cloud services; and system equipment. The company also offers network infrastructure products comprising core network equipment, mobile phone base stations, optical transmission systems, and routers and switches; and services and management solutions, such as operation support system (OSS), business support system (BSS), and services. In addition, it provides digital government and digital finance solutions; software services for service providers, including OSS/BSS; and network infrastructure comprising submarine systems and wireless backhaul. Further, the company offers business computers, servers, NEC HPC solutions, and thin client solutions; data storage solutions; embedded systems; fiber optic devices; CONNEXIVE, an IoT platform software; PASOLINK, a mobile backhaul; optical fiber sensing products; submarine systems; and open optical transport products. Additionally, it provides EXPRESSCLUSTER X, a BC/DR solutions; NIAS, a solution for file server management; ERP solutions; MasterScope, an integrated administration software suite; Obbligato, a product lifecycle management; SaaS Solutions; WebOTX, a service execution platform; and unified communications and collaboration solutions. It serves aerospace, agriculture, aviation, broadcasting, finance, government, healthcare, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, retail, telecom, and transportation industries. The company was formerly known as Nippon Electric Company, Limited and changed its name to NEC Corporation in April 1983. NEC Corporation was incorporated in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.