Critical Contrast: Origin Materials (NASDAQ:ORGN) and KiOR (OTCMKTS:KIORQ)

Origin Materials (NASDAQ:ORGN) and KiOR (OTCMKTS:KIORQ) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, valuation and earnings.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

29.9% of Origin Materials shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.9% of Origin Materials shares are owned by 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 Origin Materials and KiOR’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Origin Materials	-229.52%	-21.26%	-19.30%
KiOR	N/A	N/A	N/A

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Origin Materials and KiOR”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Origin Materials	$28.81 million	5.84	$23.80 million	($0.57)	-2.02
KiOR	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Origin Materials has higher revenue and earnings than KiOR.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Origin Materials and KiOR, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Origin Materials	0	0	1	0	3.00
KiOR	0	0	0	0	0.00

Origin Materials currently has a consensus price target of $3.00, suggesting a potential upside of 160.87%. Given Origin Materials’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Origin Materials is more favorable than KiOR.

Summary

Origin Materials beats KiOR on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Origin Materials

Origin Materials, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a carbon-negative materials company. The company develops a proprietary biomass conversion platform to convert biomass, or plant-based carbon into building block chemicals chloromethylfurfural and hydrothermal carbon, as well as other oils and extractives and other co-products. Origin Materials, Inc. is headquartered in West Sacramento, California.

About KiOR

KiOR, Inc., incorporated on July 23, 2007, is a development-stage and is a next generation renewable fuels company. The Company is engaged in developing a commercial process to produce cellulosic gasoline and diesel from abundant, lignocellulosic biomass. The Company has developed a two-step technology platform that converts non-food lignocellulose into cellulosic gasoline and diesel that can be transported using the existing fuels distribution system for use in vehicles. The other renewable fuels are derived from soft starches, such as corn starch or cane sugar, for ethanol, or from soy and other vegetable oils for biodiesel, cellulosic fuel is derived from lignocellulose found in wood, grasses and the non-edible portions of plants. The Company has not generated any revenue.