ORBCOMM (NASDAQ: ORBC) and Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, profitabiliy, analyst recommendations and earnings.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for ORBCOMM and Vodafone Group PLC, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| ORBCOMM | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Vodafone Group PLC | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 2.57 |
ORBCOMM presently has a consensus price target of $12.88, suggesting a potential upside of 10.61%. Vodafone Group PLC has a consensus price target of $31.00, suggesting a potential upside of 5.30%. Given ORBCOMM’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe ORBCOMM is more favorable than Vodafone Group PLC.
Profitability
This table compares ORBCOMM and Vodafone Group PLC’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| ORBCOMM | -12.69% | -4.69% | -2.62% |
| Vodafone Group PLC | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Dividends
Vodafone Group PLC pays an annual dividend of $1.59 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.4%. ORBCOMM does not pay a dividend.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
80.8% of ORBCOMM shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.9% of Vodafone Group PLC shares are held by institutional investors. 9.5% of ORBCOMM shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of Vodafone Group PLC shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Risk and Volatility
ORBCOMM has a beta of 0.93, meaning that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Vodafone Group PLC has a beta of 0.51, meaning that its stock price is 49% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares ORBCOMM and Vodafone Group PLC’s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | EBITDA | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| ORBCOMM | $195.11 million | 4.28 | $37.30 million | ($0.36) | -32.33 |
| Vodafone Group PLC | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
ORBCOMM has higher revenue and earnings than Vodafone Group PLC.
About ORBCOMM
ORBCOMM Inc. is a provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, including network connectivity, devices, device management and Web reporting applications. The Company’s IoT products and services are designed to track, monitor and manage security for a range of assets, such as trailers, trucks, rail cars, sea containers, generators, fluid tanks, marine vessels, diesel or electric powered generators (gensets), oil and gas wells, pipeline monitoring equipment, irrigation control systems, and utility meters, in industries for transportation and supply chain, heavy equipment, fixed asset monitoring, maritime and government. It also provides Automatic Identification System (AIS) data services to assist in vessel navigation and to manage maritime safety for government and commercial customers across the world. It provides its services using various network platforms, including its own constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
About Vodafone Group PLC
Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone) is a telecommunications company. The Company’s business is organized into two geographic regions: Europe, and Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific (AMAP). Its segments include Europe and AMAP. Its Europe segment includes geographic regions, such as Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain and Other Europe. The Other Europe includes the Netherlands, Portugal, Greece, Hungary and Romania, among others. Its AMAP segment includes India, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Africa, Turkey, Australia, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, New Zealand and Qatar, among others. The Company provides a range of services, including voice, messaging and data across mobile and fixed networks. The Company acquires spectrum and licenses to use radio frequencies that deliver mobile services. Its fixed capabilities include cable, fiber and copper networks to enable television, broadband and voice services.
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