Industrial - Pollution & Treatment Controls
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PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Specialty Business Services
Communication Equipment
Chemicals - Specialty
PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Pollution & Treatment Controls | Specialty Business Services | Communication Equipment | Chemicals - Specialty |
| Market Cap | $1.62B | $529.86B | $19.12B | $68M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $11M | $72M | $71M | $11M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-225M | $-25.02B | $-342M | $-3M |
| Gross Margin | -10.4% | 40.8% | 53.4% | 96.3% |
| Operating Margin | -11.8% | -121.4% | -405.7% | -3.2% |
| Forward P/E | — | 10.0x | — | — |
| Total Debt | $776M | $8.76B | $32M | $3M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $157M | $24.81B | $2.34B | $13M |
PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Nov 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| PureCycle Technolog… (PCT) | 100 | 85.2 | -14.8% |
| Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) | 100 | 23.5 | -76.5% |
| AST SpaceMobile, In… (ASTS) | 100 | 741.2 | +641.2% |
| Loop Industries, In… (LOOP) | 100 | 17.3 | -82.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PCT is the clearest fit if your priority is dividends.
- 0.7% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend
SPIR lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
ASTS is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth exposure and long-term compounding is your priority.
- Rev growth 15.1%, EPS growth 30.9%, 3Y rev CAGR 72.5%
- 5.7% 10Y total return vs PCT's -12.4%
- +158.1% vs PCT's +36.3%
- -12.6% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC -47.1% vs -0.1%
LOOP carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.89
- Lower volatility, beta 0.89, current ratio 3.50x
- Beta 0.89, current ratio 3.50x
- 70.2% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 70.2% revenue growth vs SPIR's -35.2% | |
| Quality / Margins | -24.3% margin vs SPIR's -349.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.89 vs SPIR's 2.93 | |
| Dividends | 0.7% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +158.1% vs PCT's +36.3% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -12.6% ROA vs SPIR's -47.3%, ROIC -47.1% vs -0.1% |
PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
LOOP leads in 1 of 6 categories
SPIR leads 1 • ASTS leads 1 • PCT leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LOOP leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SPIR is the larger business by revenue, generating $72M annually — 6.6x PCT's $11M. LOOP is the more profitable business, keeping -24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SPIR's -349.6%. On growth, ASTS holds the edge at +27.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $11M | $72M | $71M | $11M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$105M | -$74M | -$237M | $63,000 |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$225M | -$25.0B | -$342M | -$3M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$176M | -$16.2B | -$1.1B | -$404,000 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -10.4% | +40.8% | +53.4% | +96.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -11.8% | -121.4% | -4.1% | -3.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -20.6% | -349.6% | -4.8% | -24.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -16.1% | -227.0% | -16.0% | -3.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +161.2% | -26.9% | +27.3% | +65.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.2% | +59.5% | -55.6% | +76.0% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — SPIR and ASTS and LOOP each lead in 1 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.6B | $529.9B | $19.1B | $68M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.2B | $513.8B | $16.8B | $58M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.39x | 10.01x | -48.76x | -4.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 193.38x | 7405.21x | 269.64x | 6.26x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 35.16x | 4.56x | 5.68x | 182.83x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
SPIR leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ASTS delivers a -21.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-21 in annual profit, vs $-4 for PCT. ASTS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PCT's 16.91x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PCT scores 5/9 vs LOOP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -4.1% | -88.4% | -21.1% | -2.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -23.4% | -47.3% | -12.6% | -24.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -20.3% | -0.1% | -47.1% | -8.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -21.6% | -0.1% | -10.0% | -35.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 16.91x | 0.08x | 0.01x | 8.41x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $619M | -$16.1B | -$2.3B | -$10M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $157M | $24.8B | $2.3B | $13M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $776M | $8.8B | $32M | $3M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -2.18x | 9.20x | -21.20x | -0.69x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ASTS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ASTS five years ago would be worth $78,824 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,653 for LOOP. Over the past 12 months, ASTS leads with a +158.1% total return vs PCT's +36.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ASTS at 134.8% vs LOOP's -23.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.1% | +106.4% | -21.7% | +38.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.3% | +73.1% | +158.1% | +42.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +20.5% | +198.1% | +1194.0% | -55.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -41.1% | -79.6% | +688.2% | -83.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -12.4% | -78.8% | +568.8% | -90.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.4% | +43.9% | +134.8% | -23.5% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SPIR and LOOP each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LOOP is the less volatile stock with a 0.89 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SPIR's 2.93 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SPIR currently trades 68.3% from its 52-week high vs ASTS's 50.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.40x | 3.10x | 2.83x | 0.85x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.37 | $23.59 | $129.89 | $2.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.93 | $6.60 | $22.47 | $0.85 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +51.5% | +68.3% | +50.3% | +61.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.2 | 55.5 | 41.8 | 55.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.8M | 1.6M | 14.9M | 74K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: PCT as "Buy", SPIR as "Buy", ASTS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 58.6% upside for ASTS (target: $104) vs 0.7% for PCT (target: $9). PCT is the only dividend payer here at 0.70% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $9.00 | $17.25 | $103.65 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 12 | 7 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.7% | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.06 | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
LOOP leads in 1 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow). SPIR leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
PCT vs SPIR vs ASTS vs LOOP: Key Questions Answered
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Loop Industries, Inc.
(LOOP) is the stronger pick with 70. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) offers the better valuation at 10. 0x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 is the better long-term investment — PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP?
Over the past 5 years, AST SpaceMobile, Inc.
(ASTS) delivered a total return of +688. 2%, compared to -83. 5% for Loop Industries, Inc. (LOOP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASTS returned +668. 2% versus LOOP's -90. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Loop Industries, Inc.
(LOOP) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 85β versus Spire Global, Inc. 's 3. 10β — meaning SPIR is approximately 267% more volatile than LOOP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 17% for PureCycle Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Loop Industries, Inc.
(LOOP) is pulling ahead at 70. 2% versus -35. 2% for Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Spire Global, Inc. grew EPS 137. 8% year-over-year, compared to 28. 7% for Loop Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ASTS leads at 72. 5% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP?
Spire Global, Inc.
(SPIR) is the more profitable company, earning 71. 7% net margin versus -21. 9% for PureCycle Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 71. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LOOP leads at -52. 6% versus -1991. 2% for PCT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LOOP leads at 95. 2%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP?
In this comparison, PCT (0.
7% yield) pays a dividend. SPIR, ASTS, LOOP do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is PCT or SPIR or ASTS or LOOP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Loop Industries, Inc.
(LOOP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 85)). Spire Global, Inc. (SPIR) carries a higher beta of 3. 10 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LOOP: -90. 5%, SPIR: -75. 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.
08What are the main differences between PCT and SPIR and ASTS and LOOP?
These companies operate in different sectors (PCT (Industrials) and SPIR (Industrials) and ASTS (Technology) and LOOP (Basic Materials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: PCT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SPIR is a large-cap deep-value stock; ASTS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; LOOP is a small-cap high-growth stock. PCT pays a dividend while SPIR, ASTS, LOOP do 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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