Critical Survey: Helix Technologies (OTCMKTS:HLIX) versus MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA)

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) and Helix Technologies (OTCMKTS:HLIX) are both industrials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, earnings and valuation.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for MSA Safety and Helix Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
MSA Safety	0	1	2	0	2.67
Helix Technologies	0	0	0	0	N/A

MSA Safety currently has a consensus price target of $189.50, suggesting a potential upside of 2.22%. Given MSA Safety’s higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe MSA Safety is more favorable than Helix Technologies.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

92.5% of MSA Safety shares are held by institutional investors. 6.2% of MSA Safety shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares MSA Safety and Helix Technologies’ gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
MSA Safety	$1.79 billion	4.08	$58.58 million	$1.45	127.85
Helix Technologies	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

MSA Safety has higher revenue and earnings than Helix Technologies.

Profitability

This table compares MSA Safety and Helix Technologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
MSA Safety	3.28%	32.44%	12.70%
Helix Technologies	N/A	N/A	N/A

Summary

MSA Safety beats Helix Technologies on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MSA Safety

MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide. The company's core product offerings include fixed gas and flame detection systems, such as gas detection monitoring systems, and flame detectors and open-path infrared gas detectors; breathing apparatus products, including self-contained breathing apparatus; hand-held portable gas detection instruments to detect the presence or absence of various gases in the air; industrial head protection products; firefighter helmets and protective apparel; and fall protection equipment, such as confined space equipment, harnesses, lanyards, and self-retracting lifelines, as well as engineered systems. In addition, the company offers air-purifying respirators, eye and face protection products, ballistic helmets, and gas masks. It serves distributors and end-users through indirect and direct sales channels. The company offers its products under the V-Gard, Cairns, and Gallet brand names. MSA Safety Incorporated was founded in 1914 and is based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.

About Helix Technologies

Helix Technologies, Inc. provides technology, compliance, and security solutions to the legal cannabis industry in the United States, Colombia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Australia. The company offers security solutions to cannabis businesses, including assessments and planning, security system design and implementation, asset protection, transport, and assurance of security for the state licensing process. Its security products and services include IP CCTV systems, intrusion alarm systems, perimeter alarm systems, access control, and security consulting. The company also provides physical security solutions, such as armed and unarmed guards, armored transport, background checks, investigations, and risk assessment, as well as armed transportation services. In addition, it operates Cannabase, an online community for registered legal cannabis license holders. Further, the company develops and licenses seed to sale cannabis compliance software to private-sector and public-sector clients that are involved in cannabis related operations; and offers on-going training, support, and software customization services. The company was formerly known as Helix TCS, Inc. and changed its name to Helix Technologies, Inc. in June 2020. Helix Technologies, Inc. is based in Greenwood Village, Colorado.