Analyzing Western Copper & Gold (NYSE:WRN) and NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NB)

NioCorp Developments (NASDAQ:NBGet Free Report) and Western Copper & Gold (NYSE:WRNGet Free Report) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, valuation, earnings and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for NioCorp Developments and Western Copper & Gold, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
NioCorp Developments 0 0 1 0 3.00
Western Copper & Gold 0 0 1 1 3.50

NioCorp Developments currently has a consensus price target of $8.50, indicating a potential upside of 359.46%. Western Copper & Gold has a consensus price target of $4.25, indicating a potential upside of 286.36%. Given NioCorp Developments’ higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe NioCorp Developments is more favorable than Western Copper & Gold.

Volatility and Risk

NioCorp Developments has a beta of -0.31, suggesting that its share price is 131% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Western Copper & Gold has a beta of 1.84, suggesting that its share price is 84% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares NioCorp Developments and Western Copper & Gold’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
NioCorp Developments N/A N/A -210.84%
Western Copper & Gold N/A -3.95% -3.83%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares NioCorp Developments and Western Copper & Gold”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio
NioCorp Developments N/A N/A -$11.44 million ($0.37) -5.00
Western Copper & Gold N/A N/A -$2.47 million ($0.03) -36.67

Western Copper & Gold is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than NioCorp Developments, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

4.0% of NioCorp Developments shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 22.0% of Western Copper & Gold shares are owned by institutional investors. 18.7% of NioCorp Developments shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 4.6% of Western Copper & Gold shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Western Copper & Gold beats NioCorp Developments on 7 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About NioCorp Developments

(Get Free Report)

NioCorp Developments Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in North America. It owns and develops the Elk Creek niobium/scandium/titanium project that owns one 226.43-acre parcel of land and associated mineral rights, and an additional 40 acres of mineral rights, as well as an optioned land package that covers an area of 1,396 acres located in Johnson County, southeast Nebraska. The company was formerly known as Quantum Rare Earth Developments Corp. and changed its name to NioCorp Developments Ltd. in March 2013. NioCorp Developments Ltd. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado.

About Western Copper & Gold

(Get Free Report)

Western Copper and Gold Corporation, an exploration stage company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum deposits. Its principal property is the Casino mineral property that comprise 1,136 full and partial quartz claims, and 55 placer claims located in Yukon, Canada. The company was formerly known as Western Copper Corporation and changed its name to Western Copper and Gold Corporation in October 2011. Western Copper and Gold Corporation was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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