Contrasting Waldencast (NASDAQ:WALD) & Haleon (NYSE:HLN)

Haleon (NYSE:HLN) and Waldencast (NASDAQ:WALD) are both medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Haleon and Waldencast’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Haleon	9.68%	13.17%	6.43%
Waldencast	N/A	N/A	N/A

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Haleon and Waldencast’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Haleon	$11.24 billion	3.72	$1.30 billion	$0.30	30.50
Waldencast	$218.14 million	1.76	-$89.98 million	N/A	N/A

Haleon has higher revenue and earnings than Waldencast.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Haleon and Waldencast, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Haleon	0	1	4	0	2.80
Waldencast	0	0	2	0	3.00

Waldencast has a consensus price target of $7.25, suggesting a potential upside of 130.89%. Given Waldencast’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Waldencast is more favorable than Haleon.

Volatility & Risk

Haleon has a beta of 0.24, suggesting that its stock price is 76% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Waldencast has a beta of -0.46, suggesting that its stock price is 146% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

6.7% of Haleon shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 42.0% of Waldencast shares are held by institutional investors. 5.9% of Waldencast shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Haleon beats Waldencast on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Haleon

Haleon plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of various consumer healthcare products in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. The company provides oral health products, such as toothpastes, mouth washes, and denture care products under the Sensodyne, Polident, Parodontax, Biotene brands; and vitamins, minerals, and supplements under Centrum, Emergen-C, Caltrate brands. It also offers various over-the-counter products comprising nasal drops, and cold, flu, and allergy relief products under Otrivine, Theraflu, and Flonase brands for respiratory issues; anti-inflammatory and pain relief products under Voltaren, Panadol, and Advil brands; and antacids and antihistamine products under TUMS, ENO, and Fenistil brands for digestive health and other issues. The company was formerly known as DRVW 2022 plc and changed its name to Haleon plc in February 2022. Haleon plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Weybridge, the United Kingdom.

About Waldencast

Waldencast plc operates in the beauty and wellness business. The company engages in developing, acquiring, accelerating, and scaling various brands. It provides cosmetic, over-the-counter, and prescription products under the Obagi Medical, Obagi Clinical, and Obagi Professional brands; and a Skintrinsiq device for use in facial treatments that is used by physicians' offices, spas, and aestheticians. The company also offers clean makeup products under the Milk Makeup brand. It sells its products to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and other physicians who focuses on aesthetic and therapeutic skincare, including physicians on site at medical spas, through its direct sales force, as well as through distribution partners. The company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.