Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX – Get Free Report) and 4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT – Get Free Report) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and analyst recommendations.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Protalix BioTherapeutics and 4D Molecular Therapeutics, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| 4D Molecular Therapeutics | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 2.77 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics presently has a consensus price target of $12.00, suggesting a potential upside of 374.31%. 4D Molecular Therapeutics has a consensus price target of $28.90, suggesting a potential upside of 141.64%. Given Protalix BioTherapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Protalix BioTherapeutics is more favorable than 4D Molecular Therapeutics.
Profitability
This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ 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% |
| 4D Molecular Therapeutics | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Volatility & Risk
Protalix BioTherapeutics has a beta of -0.09, suggesting that its share price is 109% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, 4D Molecular Therapeutics has a beta of 2.75, suggesting that its share price is 175% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and 4D Molecular Therapeutics”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | $80.62 million | 2.53 | $8.31 million | $0.23 | 11.00 |
| 4D Molecular Therapeutics | $92.01 million | 7.18 | -$145.29 million | ($2.63) | -4.55 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics has higher earnings, but lower revenue than 4D Molecular Therapeutics. 4D Molecular Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Protalix BioTherapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
16.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.3% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.7% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 7.9% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
4D Molecular Therapeutics beats Protalix BioTherapeutics 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 4D Molecular Therapeutics
4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, develops genetic medicines using its therapeutic vector evolution platform in the Netherland and the United States. The company develops a portfolio of genetic medicine product candidates focuses in three therapeutic areas for ophthalmology, cardiology, and pulmonology. Its product pipeline includes 4D-150, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration; and is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The company develops 4D-125, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of x-linked retinitis pigmentosa; 4D-110, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of choroideremia; 4D-710, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment cystic fibrosis lung disease; and 4D-310 to treat fabry disease cardiomyopathy and is in phase 1/2 clinical trial. In addition, its product candidates comprises 4D-175, which is in pre-clinical development for the treatment for geographic trophy; and 4D-725 to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency lung disease and is in pre-clinical development. The company has collaboration and licensing agreements with Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc.; Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc; uniQure biopharma B.V.; and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California.
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