Contrasting Rambus (NASDAQ:RMBS) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI)

Rambus (NASDAQ:RMBS) and Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ:ASTI) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Rambus and Ascent Solar Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Rambus	0	0	7	1	3.13
Ascent Solar Technologies	0	0	0	0	0.00

Rambus currently has a consensus price target of $77.29, suggesting a potential upside of 23.20%. Given Rambus’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Rambus is more favorable than Ascent Solar Technologies.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Rambus and Ascent Solar Technologies”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Rambus	$556.62 million	12.01	$179.82 million	$1.66	37.79
Ascent Solar Technologies	$460,000.00	6.34	-$17.07 million	N/A	N/A

Rambus has higher revenue and earnings than Ascent Solar Technologies.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

88.5% of Rambus shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.6% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of Rambus shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of Ascent Solar Technologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Rambus and Ascent Solar Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Rambus	32.31%	17.47%	14.45%
Ascent Solar Technologies	-28,235.93%	-1,360.73%	-157.70%

Volatility and Risk

Rambus has a beta of 1.26, indicating that its stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ascent Solar Technologies has a beta of 2.43, indicating that its stock price is 143% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Rambus beats Ascent Solar Technologies on 12 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Rambus

Rambus Inc. provides semiconductor products in the United States, South Korea, Singapore, and internationally. The company offers DDR memory interface chips, including DDR5 and DDR4 memory interface chips to module manufacturers, OEMs, and hyperscalers; silicon IP, such as interface and security IP solutions that move and protect data in advanced data center, government, and automotive applications; and interface IP solutions for high-speed memory and chip-to-chip digital controller IP. It also provides a portfolios of security IP solutions, including crypto cores, hardware roots of trust, high-speed protocol engines, and chip provisioning technologies; and portfolio of patents that covers memory architecture, high-speed serial links, and security products. It markets its products and services through its direct sales force and distributors. Rambus Inc. was incorporated in 1990 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

About Ascent Solar Technologies

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a solar technology company, engages in the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic solar modules in the United States. The company markets and sells its products through OEMs, system integrators, distributors, retailers, and value-added resellers. It serves agrivoltaics, aerospace, satellites, near earth orbiting vehicles, and fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicles. Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Thornton, Colorado.