Ascend Wellness (OTCMKTS:AAWH – Get Free Report) and Synaptogenix (NASDAQ:TAOX – Get Free Report) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership and risk.
Profitability
This table compares Ascend Wellness and Synaptogenix’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Ascend Wellness | -23.31% | N/A | -10.85% |
| Synaptogenix | -2,153.97% | -128.51% | -97.54% |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
17.3% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.3% of Synaptogenix shares are owned by institutional investors. 21.9% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.7% of Synaptogenix shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Ascend Wellness and Synaptogenix, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Ascend Wellness | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Synaptogenix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Ascend Wellness and Synaptogenix”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Ascend Wellness | $500.58 million | 0.15 | -$118.19 million | ($0.57) | -0.64 |
| Synaptogenix | $300,000.00 | 69.14 | -$28.74 million | ($3.85) | -0.67 |
Synaptogenix has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Ascend Wellness. Synaptogenix is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ascend Wellness, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Risk and Volatility
Ascend Wellness has a beta of 1.22, suggesting that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Synaptogenix has a beta of 1.81, suggesting that its share price is 81% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Ascend Wellness beats Synaptogenix on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Ascend Wellness
Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, manufactures, and sells cannabis products in the United States. The company serves both medical and adult-use markets, subject to applicable state regulations. Ascend’s product portfolio includes flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, and other cannabis products sold under brands such as Ozone, Simply Herb, Common Goods, and &Shine. The company distributes products through its own retail dispensaries and through wholesale channels serving third-party cannabis retailers.
About Synaptogenix
Synaptogenix, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. Its research has centered primarily on bryostatin-1, a drug candidate being investigated for its potential to improve synaptic function and memory. The company has historically pursued treatments for conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and Fragile X syndrome. Its development programs have been research- and clinical-stage, with no indication that it operates a broad commercial product portfolio.
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