Critical Analysis: Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML) vs. First Quantum Minerals (OTCMKTS:FQVLF)

First Quantum Minerals (OTCMKTS:FQVLF) and Critical Metals (NASDAQ:CRML) are both basic materials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and valuation.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

86.4% of Critical Metals shares are held by institutional investors. 65.7% of Critical Metals shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for First Quantum Minerals and Critical Metals, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
First Quantum Minerals	0	4	3	1	2.63
Critical Metals	0	0	0	0	0.00

First Quantum Minerals presently has a consensus target price of $16.00, indicating a potential upside of 21.58%. Given First Quantum Minerals’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe First Quantum Minerals is more favorable than Critical Metals.

Volatility & Risk

First Quantum Minerals has a beta of 1.5, meaning that its share price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Critical Metals has a beta of 0.17, meaning that its share price is 83% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares First Quantum Minerals and Critical Metals”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
First Quantum Minerals	$6.46 billion	1.70	-$954.00 million	($2.23)	-5.90
Critical Metals	N/A	N/A	-$147.49 million	N/A	N/A

Critical Metals has lower revenue, but higher earnings than First Quantum Minerals.

Profitability

This table compares First Quantum Minerals and Critical Metals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
First Quantum Minerals	-32.41%	-2.69%	-1.29%
Critical Metals	N/A	N/A	N/A

About First Quantum Minerals

First Quantum Minerals Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral properties. It primarily explores for copper, nickel, pyrite, silver, gold, and zinc ores, as well as produces acid. The company has operating mines located in Zambia, Panama, Finland, Turkey, Spain, Australia, and Mauritania, as well as a development project in Zambia. It is exploring the Taca Taca copper-gold-molybdenum project in Argentina, as well as the Haquira copper deposit in Peru. The company was formerly known as First Quantum Ventures Ltd. and changed its name to First Quantum Minerals Ltd. in July 1996. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.

About Critical Metals

Sizzle Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company. It intends to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or related business combination with one or more businesses. Sizzle Acquisition Corp. is based in Washington, the District of Columbia.