Head to Head Survey: Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock (NASDAQ:PHLT) and Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A (OTCMKTS:ASCMA)

Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A (OTCMKTS:ASCMA) and Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock (NASDAQ:PHLT) are both small-cap industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and institutional ownership.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

77.2% of Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock shares are held by institutional investors. 10.2% of Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.2% of Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A and Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock	-6.74%	-10.19%	-7.83%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A and Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A	0	0	0	0	0.00
Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock	0	0	0	1	4.00

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A and Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock	$122.98 million	1.91	-$7.52 million	($0.13)	-23.08

Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock.

About Ascent Capital Group Inc Series A

Ascent Capital Group, Inc., through its subsidiary, Monitronics International, Inc., provides security alarm monitoring services to residential and commercial customers in the United States, Canada, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The company provides monitoring services for alarm signals arising from burglaries, fires, medical alerts, and other events through security systems at customers' premises. It also offers home automation services, including remote activation and control of security systems, support for video monitoring, flood sensors, automated garage door and door lock capabilities, and thermostat integration; hands-free two-way interactive voice communication between its monitoring center and customers; and customer service and technical support related to home monitoring systems and home automation services. The company also provides maintenance and wholesale contract monitoring services to other security alarm companies. It markets and sells its products through a network of authorized dealers. The company was formerly known as Ascent Media Corporation and changed its name to Ascent Capital Group, Inc. in July 2011. Ascent Capital Group, Inc. was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

About Performant Healthcare, Inc. – Common Stock

Performant Healthcare, Inc. engages in the provision of technology-enabled audit, recovery, customer care, and related analytics services. Its services help identify improper payments, and in some markets, restructure and recover delinquent or defaulted assets and improper payments for both government and private clients. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Plantation, FL.