ACNT
Ascent Industries Co.
Steel
Market Cap$127M
5Y Perf.+87.8%
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Side-by-side financial analysisACNT
MFIN
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Stock Comparison
ACNT vs MFIN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MFIN
Medallion Financial Corp.
Financial - Credit Services
Market Cap$231M
5Y Perf.+270.2%
ACNT vs MFIN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  ACNT |  MFIN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Financial - Credit Services |
| Market Cap | $127M | $231M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $77M | $340M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1M | $47M |
| Gross Margin | 21.8% | 59.3% |
| Operating Margin | -9.8% | 30.9% |
| Forward P/E | 16.9x | 8.8x |
| Total Debt | $13M | $316M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $58M | $202M |
ACNT vs MFIN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACNT
MFIN
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent Industries C… (ACNT) | 100 | 187.8 | +87.8% |
| Medallion Financial… (MFIN) | 100 | 370.2 | +270.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACNT vs MFIN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MFIN leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Ascent Industries Co. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
🥇MFIN emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
ACNT
Ascent Industries Co.
The Income Pick
ACNT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.47
- 93.7% 10Y total return vs MFIN's 65.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.47, Low D/E 15.3%, current ratio 6.72x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
MFIN
Medallion Financial Corp.
The Banking Pick
MFIN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 21.1%, EPS growth 17.1%
- 21.1% NII/revenue growth vs ACNT's -57.9%
- Lower P/E (8.8x vs 16.9x)
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  MFIN | 21.1% NII/revenue growth vs ACNT's -57.9% |
| Value | MFIN | Lower P/E (8.8x vs 16.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | MFIN | 13.7% margin vs ACNT's 1.6% |
| Stability / Safety |  ACNT | Beta 0.47 vs MFIN's 1.12, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MFIN | 4.6% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACNT | +10.2% vs MFIN's +8.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MFIN | 1.6% ROA vs ACNT's 1.1%, ROIC 17.2% vs -6.6% |
ACNT vs MFIN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
Segment breakdown not available.
ACNT vs MFIN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMFINLAGGINGACNT
ACNTAscent Industries Co.
0leads
MFINMedallion Financial C…
5leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACNTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MFIN5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
MFIN3/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MFIN5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MFIN4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
MFIN1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFIN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MFIN is the larger business by revenue, generating $340M annually — 4.4x ACNT's $77M. MFIN is the more profitable business, keeping 13.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACNT's 1.6%.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | MFINMedallion Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $77M | $340M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$3M | $111M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1M | $47M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$7M | $126M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +59.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -9.8% | +30.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.6% | +13.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.0% | +37.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.9% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.7% | +16.3% |
MFIN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
MFIN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | MFINMedallion Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $127M | $231M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $83M | $346M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -24.22x | 5.51x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.93x | 8.80x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 1.94x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.69x | 0.65x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.56x | 0.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 1.83x |
MFIN leads this category, winning 3 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MFIN leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MFIN delivers a 9.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $1 for ACNT. ACNT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.15x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MFIN's 0.62x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MFIN scores 7/9 vs ACNT's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | MFINMedallion Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +9.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +1.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.6% | +17.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.0% | +10.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 0.62x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$44M | $115M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $58M | $202M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13M | $316M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 1.07x |
MFIN leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MFIN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MFIN five years ago would be worth $12,551 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,545 for ACNT. Over the past 12 months, ACNT leads with a +10.2% total return vs MFIN's +8.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MFIN at 13.1% vs ACNT's 12.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | MFINMedallion Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.5% | -1.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.2% | +8.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +41.3% | +44.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.4% | +25.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.7% | +65.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.2% | +13.1% |
MFIN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — ACNT and MFIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACNT is the less volatile stock with a 0.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MFIN's 1.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MFIN currently trades 89.2% from its 52-week high vs ACNT's 78.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | MFINMedallion Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 1.12x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.92 | $11.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.62 | $7.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.4% | +89.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 57.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 73K | 62K |
Evenly matched — ACNT and MFIN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
MFIN leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACNT as "Buy" and MFIN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 28.1% upside for ACNT (target: $18) vs 7.0% for MFIN (target: $11). MFIN is the only dividend payer here at 4.61% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | MFINMedallion Financi… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.00 | $10.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +4.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 3 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.45 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.2% | +0.4% |
MFIN leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
MFIN leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallMedallion Financial Corp. (MFIN)Leads 5 of 6 categories
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ACNT vs MFIN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACNT or MFIN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Medallion Financial Corp.
(MFIN) is the stronger pick with 21. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -57. 9% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). Medallion Financial Corp. (MFIN) offers the better valuation at 5. 5x trailing P/E (8. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT) a "Buy" — based on 4 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ACNT or MFIN?
On forward P/E, Medallion Financial Corp.
is actually cheaper at 8. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACNT or MFIN?
Over the past 5 years, Medallion Financial Corp.
(MFIN) delivered a total return of +25. 5%, compared to +25. 4% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACNT returned +93. 7% versus MFIN's +65. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ACNT or MFIN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ascent Industries Co.
(ACNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Medallion Financial Corp. 's 1. 12β — meaning MFIN is approximately 140% more volatile than ACNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 62% for Medallion Financial Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACNT or MFIN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Medallion Financial Corp.
(MFIN) is pulling ahead at 21. 1% versus -57. 9% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Ascent Industries Co. grew EPS 56. 7% year-over-year, compared to 17. 1% for Medallion Financial Corp.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ACNT or MFIN?
Medallion Financial Corp.
(MFIN) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 2% net margin versus -7. 5% for Ascent Industries Co. — meaning it keeps 12. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MFIN leads at 50. 5% versus -9. 0% for ACNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MFIN leads at 96. 7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ACNT or MFIN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Medallion Financial Corp.
(MFIN) trades at 8. 8x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for Ascent Industries Co. — 8. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACNT: 28. 1% to $18. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACNT or MFIN?
In this comparison, MFIN (4.
6% yield) pays a dividend. ACNT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ACNT or MFIN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ascent Industries Co.
(ACNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACNT: +93. 7%, MFIN: +65. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ACNT and MFIN?
These companies operate in different sectors (ACNT (Basic Materials) and MFIN (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: ACNT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MFIN is a small-cap high-growth stock. MFIN pays a dividend while ACNT does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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