Contrasting ARQ (NASDAQ:ARQ) and HighCom Global Security (OTCMKTS:HCGS)

ARQ (NASDAQ:ARQ) and HighCom Global Security (OTCMKTS:HCGS) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and earnings.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares ARQ and HighCom Global Security”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
ARQ	$110.02 million	2.55	-$12.25 million	($0.01)	-667.00
HighCom Global Security	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

HighCom Global Security has lower revenue, but higher earnings than ARQ.

Profitability

This table compares ARQ and HighCom Global Security’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ARQ	-0.44%	-0.25%	-0.19%
HighCom Global Security	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for ARQ and HighCom Global Security, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ARQ	0	0	2	0	3.00
HighCom Global Security	0	0	0	0	0.00

ARQ presently has a consensus target price of $10.00, suggesting a potential upside of 49.93%. Given ARQ’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe ARQ is more favorable than HighCom Global Security.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

18.5% of ARQ shares are held by institutional investors. 26.9% of ARQ shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 16.0% of HighCom Global Security shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

ARQ beats HighCom Global Security on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About ARQ

Arq, Inc. produces activated carbon products in North America. The company's products include granular activated carbon, powdered and granular activated carbon, and colloidal carbon products; Arq Powder Wetcake, a fine and low-ash coal waste-derived particle; and additives for air emissions control. Its products are used in various applications, including water treatment, ground water remediation, soil sediments, air emissions, and asphalt additives. The company was formerly known as Advanced Emissions Solutions, Inc. and changed its name to Arq, Inc. in February 2024. Arq, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

About HighCom Global Security

HighCom Global Security, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and distributes security products and personal protective gears in the United States and internationally. The company offers ballistic helmets, hard armor plates, soft armor vests, and ballistic shields. It also provides BlastWrap, a blast mitigation technology that contains explosions and suppresses resulting flash fires. The company was formerly known as BlastGard International, Inc. and changed its name to HighCom Global Security, Inc. in June 2017. HighCom Global Security, Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.