Comparing Verify Smart (OTCMKTS:VSMR) and Hudbay Minerals (NYSE:HBM)

Verify Smart (OTCMKTS:VSMR) and Hudbay Minerals (NYSE:HBM) are both small-cap business services companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

60.3% of Hudbay Minerals shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Hudbay Minerals shares are owned by 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 and Valuation

This table compares Verify Smart and Hudbay Minerals’ top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Verify Smart	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hudbay Minerals	$1.46 billion	1.15	$70.38 million	($0.13)	-37.42

Hudbay Minerals has higher revenue and earnings than Verify Smart.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Verify Smart and Hudbay Minerals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Verify Smart	0	0	0	0	N/A
Hudbay Minerals	0	0	4	0	3.00

Hudbay Minerals has a consensus target price of $11.17, suggesting a potential upside of 129.53%. Given Hudbay Minerals’ higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Hudbay Minerals is more favorable than Verify Smart.

Risk and Volatility

Verify Smart has a beta of 3.9, suggesting that its stock price is 290% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Hudbay Minerals has a beta of 2.04, suggesting that its stock price is 104% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Verify Smart and Hudbay Minerals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Verify Smart	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hudbay Minerals	-2.75%	-1.59%	-0.59%

Summary

Hudbay Minerals beats Verify Smart on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Verify Smart

Verify Smart Corp. provides wireless software solutions focused on IP fraud protection for secure authenticated transactions and celebrity services for fans interactions worldwide. The company's software solutions are delivered as Software as a Service model over the Internet, and allows its clients to access the company's application software and databases. Its products include VerifyNGo, which provides instant personal verification to combat fraud and identity theft through mobile device; and Prvii, a mobile communications service that enables celebrities to monetize their fan base via messaging channels. Verify Smart Corp. promotes its products and services across various markets, including consumer brands, financial services, sports/entertainment, governments, and educational institutions. The company was formerly known as Treasure Explorations Inc. and changed its name to Verify Smart Corp. in March 2009. Verify Smart Corp. was founded in 2006 and is based in Fernley, Nevada.

About Hudbay Minerals

Hudbay Minerals Inc., a diversified mining company, together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the exploration, development, operation, and optimization of properties in North and South America. It produces copper concentrates containing copper, gold, and silver; zinc concentrates; zinc metal; and gold and silver doré and molybdenum concentrates. The company's flagship project is the 100% owned Constancia mine located in the Province of Chumbivilcas in southern Peru. It also holds 100% interest in the Lalor mine located near Snow Lake, Manitoba; the Copper World project located in Pima County, Arizona; and the Llaguen Project comprising 12 mining concessions covering an area of 8,900 hectares located in Trujillo, Peru. In addition, the company holds interests in Mason project located in Yerington District, Nevada, as well as operations in the mineral reserves and resources in Snow Lake regional deposits. Hudbay Minerals Inc. was and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.