SDM
Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares
Advertising Agencies
Market Cap$49M
5Y Perf.-72.8%
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Stock Comparison
SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CNET
ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.
Advertising Agencies
Market Cap$2M
5Y Perf.-31.3%
CLPS
CLPS Incorporation
Information Technology Services
Market Cap$25M
5Y Perf.+8.4%
RCON
Recon Technology, Ltd.
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services
Market Cap$17M
5Y Perf.-42.8%
SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SDM | CNET | CLPS | RCON |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Advertising Agencies | Advertising Agencies | Information Technology Services | Oil & Gas Equipment & Services |
| Market Cap | $49M | $2M | $25M | $17M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $22M | $6M | $299M | $66M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2M | $-2M | $-4M | $-43M |
| Gross Margin | 13.9% | 4.8% | 22.8% | 23.0% |
| Operating Margin | 9.6% | -31.7% | -1.4% | -86.5% |
| Forward P/E | 28.9x | — | — | — |
| Total Debt | $303K | $122K | $34M | $34M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $58K | $812K | $28M | $99M |
SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SDM
CNET
CLPS
RCON
| Stock | May 25 | Apr 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Digital Group… (SDM) | 100 | 27.2 | -72.8% |
| ZW Data Action Tech… (CNET) | 100 | 68.7 | -31.3% |
| CLPS Incorporation (CLPS) | 100 | 108.4 | +8.4% |
| Recon Technology, L… (RCON) | 100 | 57.2 | -42.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SDM and CLPS are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. CLPS Incorporation is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and dividend income and shareholder returns. This set spans 3 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
SDM
Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares
The Growth Play
SDM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 121.8%, EPS growth -14.9%
- -69.7% 10Y total return vs CLPS's -78.5%
- 121.8% revenue growth vs CNET's -49.5%
- 7.9% margin vs RCON's -64.3%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
CNET
ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.
The Specific-Use Pick
CNET plays a supporting role in this comparison — it may shine differently against other peers.
Best for: communication services exposure
CLPS
CLPS Incorporation
The Income Pick
CLPS is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability is your priority.
- Dividend streak 3 yrs, beta 0.27, yield 14.6%
- Beta 0.27 vs CNET's 1.18
- 14.6% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend
- -5.4% vs SDM's -67.8%
Best for: income & stability
RCON
Recon Technology, Ltd.
The Defensive Pick
RCON is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- Lower volatility, beta 0.47, Low D/E 7.6%, current ratio 5.88x
- Beta 0.47, current ratio 5.88x
Best for: sleep-well-at-night and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SDM | 121.8% revenue growth vs CNET's -49.5% |
| Quality / Margins | SDM | 7.9% margin vs RCON's -64.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CLPS | Beta 0.27 vs CNET's 1.18 |
| Dividends | CLPS | 14.6% yield; 3-year raise streak; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CLPS | -5.4% vs SDM's -67.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SDM | 14.0% ROA vs CNET's -21.3%, ROIC 27.0% vs -64.7% |
SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2024
FY 2025
FY 2025
SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCLPSLAGGINGRCON
Who Leads Where
CLPS leads in 2 of 6 categories
SDM leads 1 • CNET leads 0 • RCON leads 0 • 3 tied
Explore the data ↓RCONRecon Technology, Ltd.
0leads
CNETZW Data Action Techno…
0leads
SDMSmart Digital Group L…
1leads
CLPSCLPS Incorporation
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs SDMvs CNETMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
SDM6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CLPS4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
CLPS1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — SDM and CLPS each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CLPS is the larger business by revenue, generating $299M annually — 48.5x CNET's $6M. SDM is the more profitable business, keeping 7.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RCON's -64.3%. On growth, CLPS holds the edge at +15.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SDMSmart Digital Gro… | CNETZW Data Action Te… | CLPSCLPS Incorporation | RCONRecon Technology,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $22M | $6M | $299M | $66M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | — | -$2M | -$1M | -$54M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | — | -$2M | -$4M | -$43M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | — | -$2M | $0 | -$44M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +13.9% | +4.8% | +22.8% | +23.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +9.6% | -31.7% | -1.4% | -86.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | -33.4% | -1.3% | -64.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.2% | -27.3% | -2.3% | -65.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -47.0% | +15.3% | +2.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +95.7% | +75.8% | +35.7% |
Evenly matched — SDM and CLPS each lead in 2 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — CNET and CLPS and RCON each lead in 1 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | SDMSmart Digital Gro… | CNETZW Data Action Te… | CLPSCLPS Incorporation | RCONRecon Technology,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $49M | $2M | $25M | $17M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $50M | $1M | $31M | $7M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.91x | -0.38x | -3.48x | -1.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 22.65x | — | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.30x | 0.12x | 0.15x | 1.72x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.69x | 0.38x | 0.43x | 0.11x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | — |
Evenly matched — CNET and CLPS and RCON each lead in 1 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SDM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SDM delivers a 30.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $-60 for CNET. CNET carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CLPS's 0.59x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SDM scores 5/9 vs CLPS's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | SDMSmart Digital Gro… | CNETZW Data Action Te… | CLPSCLPS Incorporation | RCONRecon Technology,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +30.9% | -60.3% | -6.1% | -9.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.0% | -21.3% | -3.2% | -8.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.0% | -64.7% | -7.9% | -10.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +36.0% | -73.5% | -9.8% | -11.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.05x | 0.03x | 0.59x | 0.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $245,158 | -$690,000 | $6M | -$64M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $57,817 | $812,000 | $28M | $99M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $302,975 | $122,000 | $34M | $34M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 120.96x | — | — | -372.30x |
SDM leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CLPS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CLPS five years ago would be worth $3,073 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $55 for RCON. Over the past 12 months, CLPS leads with a -5.4% total return vs SDM's -67.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CLPS at 0.2% vs CNET's -52.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SDMSmart Digital Gro… | CNETZW Data Action Te… | CLPSCLPS Incorporation | RCONRecon Technology,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | 0.0% | -44.4% | -10.3% | -45.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -67.8% | -55.1% | -5.4% | -49.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -69.7% | -89.0% | +0.5% | -88.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -69.7% | -97.9% | -69.3% | -99.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -69.7% | -97.8% | -78.5% | -99.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -32.9% | -52.1% | +0.2% | -51.6% |
CLPS leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SDM and CLPS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SDM is the less volatile stock with a -0.40 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CNET's 1.18 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CLPS currently trades 48.2% from its 52-week high vs SDM's 6.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SDMSmart Digital Gro… | CNETZW Data Action Te… | CLPSCLPS Incorporation | RCONRecon Technology,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.40x | 1.18x | 0.27x | 0.47x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $29.40 | $2.78 | $1.88 | $7.16 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.50 | $0.57 | $0.80 | $0.75 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +6.3% | +25.2% | +48.2% | +11.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 28.7 | 50.7 | 49.8 | 42.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 17.2M | 11K | 15K | 90K |
Evenly matched — SDM and CLPS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
CLPS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
CLPS is the only dividend payer here at 14.60% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | SDMSmart Digital Gro… | CNETZW Data Action Te… | CLPSCLPS Incorporation | RCONRecon Technology,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | — | — | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | +14.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | $0.13 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
CLPS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
CLPS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Analyst Outlook). SDM leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 3 tied.
Best OverallCLPS Incorporation (CLPS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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SDM vs CNET vs CLPS vs RCON: Key Questions Answered
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares (SDM) is the stronger pick with 121.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -49. 5% for ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (CNET). Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares (SDM) offers the better valuation at 28. 9x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. 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 — SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON?
Over the past 5 years, CLPS Incorporation (CLPS) delivered a total return of -69.
3%, compared to -99. 4% for Recon Technology, Ltd. (RCON). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SDM returned -69. 7% versus RCON's -99. 3%. 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 — SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares (SDM) is the lower-risk stock at -0.
40β versus ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. 's 1. 18β — meaning CNET is approximately -393% more volatile than SDM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (CNET) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 59% for CLPS Incorporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares (SDM) is pulling ahead at 121.
8% versus -49. 5% for ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. (CNET). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Recon Technology, Ltd. grew EPS 52. 6% year-over-year, compared to -181. 4% for CLPS Incorporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CLPS leads at 2. 7% 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 — SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON?
Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares (SDM) is the more profitable company, earning 7.
9% net margin versus -64. 3% for Recon Technology, Ltd. — meaning it keeps 7. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SDM leads at 9. 6% versus -86. 5% for RCON. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RCON leads at 23. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON?
In this comparison, CLPS (14.
6% yield) pays a dividend. SDM, CNET, RCON do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is SDM or CNET or CLPS or RCON better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Smart Digital Group Limited Ordinary Shares (SDM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.
40)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SDM: -69. 7%, CNET: -97. 8%), 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 SDM and CNET and CLPS and RCON?
These companies operate in different sectors (SDM (Communication Services) and CNET (Communication Services) and CLPS (Technology) and RCON (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: SDM is a small-cap high-growth stock; CNET is a small-cap quality compounder stock; CLPS is a small-cap high-growth stock; RCON is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CLPS pays a dividend while SDM, CNET, RCON 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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