ACNT
Ascent Industries Co.
Steel
Market Cap$127M
5Y Perf.+87.8%
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Side-by-side financial analysisACNT
NVS
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Stock Comparison
ACNT vs NVS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NVS
Novartis AG
Drug Manufacturers - General
Market Cap$292.07B
5Y Perf.+85.2%
ACNT vs NVS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  ACNT |  NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Steel | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Market Cap | $127M | $292.07B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $77M | $56.05B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1M | $13.53B |
| Gross Margin | 21.8% | 75.3% |
| Operating Margin | -9.8% | 30.5% |
| Forward P/E | 16.9x | 17.5x |
| Total Debt | $13M | $37.03B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $58M | $11.44B |
ACNT vs NVS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACNT
NVS
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent Industries C… (ACNT) | 100 | 187.8 | +87.8% |
| Novartis AG (NVS) | 100 | 185.2 | +85.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACNT vs NVS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NVS leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Ascent Industries Co. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
🥇NVS 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 sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.47
- Lower volatility, beta 0.47, Low D/E 15.3%, current ratio 6.72x
- Lower P/E (16.9x vs 17.5x)
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
NVS
Novartis AG
The Growth Play
NVS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 6.0%, EPS growth 22.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 8.0%
- 187.2% 10Y total return vs ACNT's 93.7%
- Beta 0.45, yield 2.6%, current ratio 1.12x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  NVS | 6.0% revenue growth vs ACNT's -57.9% |
| Value |  ACNT | Lower P/E (16.9x vs 17.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | NVS | 24.1% margin vs ACNT's 1.6% |
| Stability / Safety | NVS | Beta 0.45 vs ACNT's 0.47 |
| Dividends | NVS | 2.6% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVS | +30.7% vs ACNT's +10.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVS | 12.1% ROA vs ACNT's 1.1%, ROIC 18.8% vs -6.6% |
ACNT vs NVS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2022
ACNT vs NVS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNVSLAGGINGACNT
ACNTAscent Industries Co.
1leads
NVSNovartis AG
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACNTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NVS4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ACNT4/4
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NVS4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NVS6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NVS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVS is the larger business by revenue, generating $56.1B annually — 732.5x ACNT's $77M. NVS is the more profitable business, keeping 24.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACNT's 1.6%. On growth, ACNT holds the edge at +8.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | NVSNovartis AG |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $77M | $56.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$3M | $22.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1M | $13.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$7M | $16.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +75.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -9.8% | +30.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.6% | +24.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.0% | +29.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.9% | -0.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.7% | -9.3% |
NVS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ACNT leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | NVSNovartis AG |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $127M | $292.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $83M | $317.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -24.22x | 21.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.93x | 17.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.39x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 14.17x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.69x | 5.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.56x | 6.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 16.51x |
ACNT leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NVS leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NVS delivers a 31.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 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 NVS's 0.80x.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | NVSNovartis AG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.4% | +31.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.1% | +12.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -6.6% | +18.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.0% | +21.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.15x | 0.80x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$44M | $25.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $58M | $11.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $13M | $37.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 13.92x |
NVS leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NVS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NVS five years ago would be worth $19,402 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,545 for ACNT. Over the past 12 months, NVS leads with a +30.7% total return vs ACNT's +10.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVS at 20.4% vs ACNT's 12.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | NVSNovartis AG |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.5% | +13.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.2% | +30.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +41.3% | +74.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.4% | +94.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.7% | +187.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.2% | +20.4% |
NVS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NVS is the less volatile stock with a 0.45 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACNT's 0.47 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NVS currently trades 89.8% 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… | NVSNovartis AG |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 0.45x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.92 | $170.46 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.62 | $112.34 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.4% | +89.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.9 | 59.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 73K | 1.4M |
NVS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACNT as "Buy" and NVS as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 28.1% upside for ACNT (target: $18) vs 11.1% for NVS (target: $170). NVS is the only dividend payer here at 2.63% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ACNTAscent Industries… | NVSNovartis AG |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.00 | $170.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.6% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $4.02 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.2% | +3.2% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
NVS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ACNT leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Best OverallNovartis AG (NVS)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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ACNT vs NVS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACNT or NVS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Novartis AG (NVS) is the stronger pick with 6.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -57. 9% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). Novartis AG (NVS) offers the better valuation at 21. 3x trailing P/E (17. 5x 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 NVS?
On forward P/E, Ascent Industries Co.
is actually cheaper at 16. 9x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACNT or NVS?
Over the past 5 years, Novartis AG (NVS) delivered a total return of +94.
0%, compared to +25. 4% for Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVS returned +187. 2% versus ACNT's +93. 7%. 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 NVS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Novartis AG (NVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
45β versus Ascent Industries Co. 's 0. 47β — meaning ACNT is approximately 3% more volatile than NVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ascent Industries Co. (ACNT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 15% versus 80% for Novartis AG — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACNT or NVS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Novartis AG (NVS) is pulling ahead at 6.
0% 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 22. 5% for Novartis AG. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVS leads at 8. 0% annualised revenue growth. 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 NVS?
Novartis AG (NVS) is the more profitable company, earning 25.
6% net margin versus -7. 5% for Ascent Industries Co. — meaning it keeps 25. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVS leads at 31. 2% versus -9. 0% for ACNT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVS leads at 75. 0%, 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 NVS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ascent Industries Co.
(ACNT) trades at 16. 9x forward P/E versus 17. 5x for Novartis AG — 0. 6x 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 NVS?
In this comparison, NVS (2.
6% yield) pays a dividend. ACNT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ACNT or NVS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Novartis AG (NVS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
45), 2. 6% yield, +187. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NVS: +187. 2%, ACNT: +93. 7%), 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 NVS?
These companies operate in different sectors (ACNT (Basic Materials) and NVS (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
NVS 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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