Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX – Get Free Report) and SQZ Biotechnologies (NYSE:SQZ – Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.
Risk and Volatility
Protalix BioTherapeutics has a beta of -0.25, meaning that its stock price is 125% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SQZ Biotechnologies has a beta of 2.34, meaning that its stock price is 134% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and SQZ Biotechnologies”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | $61.84 million | 2.69 | $8.31 million | $0.07 | 29.57 |
| SQZ Biotechnologies | $18.16 million | 0.04 | -$79.46 million | ($2.61) | -0.01 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics has higher revenue and earnings than SQZ Biotechnologies. SQZ Biotechnologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Protalix BioTherapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent ratings for Protalix BioTherapeutics and SQZ Biotechnologies, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| SQZ Biotechnologies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics currently has a consensus target price of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 479.71%. Given Protalix BioTherapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Protalix BioTherapeutics is more favorable than SQZ Biotechnologies.
Profitability
This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and SQZ Biotechnologies’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | -21.03% | -30.89% | -11.74% |
| SQZ Biotechnologies | -369.96% | -119.83% | -59.90% |
Insider and Institutional Ownership
16.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 38.5% of SQZ Biotechnologies shares are held by institutional investors. 6.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.0% of SQZ Biotechnologies shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Protalix BioTherapeutics beats SQZ Biotechnologies on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Protalix BioTherapeutics
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development, production, and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and internationally. The company offers Elelyso for the treatment of Gaucher disease; and Elfabrio for the treatment of adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Fabry disease. It is also developing PRX-115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated Uricase which is in Phase I trial for the treatment of gout; and PRX-119, a plant cell-expressed PEGylated recombinant human DNase I product candidate that is in preclinical phase for the treatment of NETs-related diseases. The company has agreements and partnerships with Pfizer; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Karmiel, Israel. Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Protalix Ltd.
About SQZ Biotechnologies
SQZ Biotechnologies Company, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops cell therapies for patients with cancer, autoimmune, infectious diseases, and other serious conditions. Its lead product candidate is SQZ-PBMC-HPV, from its SQZ Antigen Presenting Cells platform, which is in a Phase I clinical trial as a monotherapy and in combination with immuno-oncology agents for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including cervical, head-and-neck, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancer. The company also develops SQZ-AAC-HPV, which is in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors in monotherapy and in combinations with immune-oncology agents. Its additional platforms in development are SQZ Activating Antigen Carriers; and SQZ Tolerizing Antigen Carriers. The Company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.
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