KULR Technology (KULR) vs. MicroStrategy (MSTR): Which Bitcoin-Backed Stock Is the Better Buy?

MicroStrategy (MSTR 3.59%) and KULR Technology (KULR -14.37%) both recently generated a lot of buzz with their big investments in Bitcoin (BTC 0.10%).

Both MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) and KULR Technology (NASDAQ:KULR) recently made headlines with their big investments in Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC).

As of Nov. 10, MicroStrategy, which started buying Bitcoin in 2020, had 279,420 Bitcoins. Those holdings are currently valued at $26.2 billion and account for 35% of its enterprise value of $75.3 billion, largely overshadowing its core software business.

Meanwhile, KULR, a developer of thermal management solutions for lithium-ion batteries, plans to spend 90% of its surplus cash on Bitcoin. It made its first purchase on Dec. 6, buying 217.18 Bitcoins. Those holdings are currently valued at $20.4 million and equate to 2% of its enterprise value of $851 million.

But which of these Bitcoin-driven stocks is the better investment? Let's take a closer look at their core businesses, recent performance, and future prospects to find out.

MicroStrategy is an all-in bet on Bitcoin

MicroStrategy went public in 1998 and was largely considered a slow-growth developer of analytics software for the better part of two decades. It initially locked in big customers like McDonald's (NYSE:MCD) but eventually saturated its market and faced intense competition from cloud-based rivals like Salesforce (NYSE:CRM), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT).

That's why the company's abrupt pivot into Bitcoin four years ago was such a head-scratching move. But so far, at least, that strategy has paid off -- it spent just $11.9 billion, or an average of $42,692 per Bitcoin, on its current holdings, which are now trading at about $94,000.

However, MicroStrategy's core software business is still struggling to grow. Its revenue declined 1% in 2023 and is expected to drop another 5% in 2024 as it faces macro headwinds. In 2205, analysts anticipate a 2% increase in revenue as the macro environment improves, it expands its cloud-based subscriptions, and rolls out more generative AI services.

On the bottom line, the company is expected to continue posting losses for the foreseeable future as its Bitcoin costs eat into revenue. It has also increased its number of shares outstanding by over 120% in the past five years to fund its Bitcoin purchases. While the bulls hope the growth of its Bitcoin holdings will eventually render its software business irrelevant, it's still an all-in bet on Bitcoin that could face serious problems if the cryptocurrency pulls back.

KULR's core business still has a bright future

KULR's recent bet on Bitcoin hasn't generated any unrealized gains yet. It paidは約2100万ドル、平均価格96,557ドルで現在のBitcoin保有高を取得した。

However, KULR's core business arguably has a lot more growth potential than MicroStrategy's aging software unit. Its fiber-based products use thermal interface materials, lightweight heat exchangers, and other methods to dissipate heat from lithium-ion batteries and prevent damaging overheating.

KULR initially developed these technologies for NASA before expanding across the aerospace and defense sectors. Its partners and customers now include SpaceX (NASDAQ:SPCE), Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), Boeing (NYSE:BA), and General Motors (NYSE:GM). Its products can be customized for a wide range of configurations to fit into tiny spaces with strict size and weight limitations. It went public as an OTC stock in 22018 but eventually grew and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021.

KULR's revenue soared 146% to $9.8 million in 2023, but it is expected to slow and grow just 4% to $10.2 million in 2024. In 2025, its revenue is expected to jump 77% to $18.1 million as its net loss narrows from $15.5 million to $12.9 million. This growth should be primarily driven by its new government contracts. While KULR isn't an all-in bet on Bitcoin like MicroStrategy, it has also increased its share count by more than 160% in the past five years to fund its expansion.

The better buy: KULR

Neither of these stocks is particularly cheap right now. With an enterprise value of $75.3 billion, MicroStrategy trades at 120 times sales. Meanwhile, K