Head to Head Analysis: Fluent (NASDAQ:FLNT) versus X3 (NASDAQ:XTKG)

X3 (NASDAQ:XTKG) and Fluent (NASDAQ:FLNT) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, profitability, valuation, dividends and risk.

Risk and Volatility

X3 has a beta of 1.77, suggesting that its share price is 77% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fluent has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares X3 and Fluent”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
X3	$11.61 million	0.11	-$76.24 million	N/A	N/A
Fluent	$254.62 million	0.38	-$29.28 million	($1.15)	-2.82

Fluent has higher revenue and earnings than X3.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for X3 and Fluent, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
X3	1	0	0	0	1.00
Fluent	0	1	0	0	2.00

Fluent has a consensus target price of $2.50, suggesting a potential downside of 22.84%. Given Fluent’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Fluent is more favorable than X3.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

1.9% of X3 shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 23.3% of Fluent shares are held by institutional investors. 23.9% of X3 shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 43.5% of Fluent shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares X3 and Fluent’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
X3	N/A	N/A	N/A
Fluent	-12.47%	-109.15%	-29.76%

Summary

Fluent beats X3 on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About X3

X3 Holdings Co Ltd. provides technology solutions and services worldwide. The company offers Global Trade Platform, a digital platform for trading partners, service providers, and government authorities. It also engages in bitcoin cryptomining operations, renewable energy projects, and agriculture technologies and trading. The company was formerly known as Powerbridge Technologies Co., Ltd. and changed its name to X3 Holdings Co Ltd. in January 2024. X3 Holdings Co Ltd. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Singapore.

About Fluent

Fluent, Inc. provides data-driven digital marketing services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Fluent and All Other segments. It offers customer acquisition services by operating digital marketing campaigns, through which the company connects its advertiser clients with consumers. The company also delivers data and performance-based marketing executions to various consumer brands, direct marketers, and agencies across a range of industries, including financial products and services, media and entertainment, health and life sciences, retail and consumer, and staffing and recruitment. Fluent, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in New York, New York.