Contrasting Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PHIO) & Mannatech (NASDAQ:MTEX)

Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PHIO) and Mannatech (NASDAQ:MTEX) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Phio Pharmaceuticals and Mannatech’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Phio Pharmaceuticals	N/A	-77.34%	-70.87%
Mannatech	-11.97%	-2,383.34%	-40.24%

Volatility & Risk

Phio Pharmaceuticals has a beta of 0.81, indicating that its stock price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mannatech has a beta of 0.72, indicating that its stock price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Phio Pharmaceuticals and Mannatech, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Phio Pharmaceuticals	1	0	1	0	2.00
Mannatech	1	0	0	0	1.00

Phio Pharmaceuticals currently has a consensus price target of $14.00, indicating a potential upside of 1,272.55%. Given Phio Pharmaceuticals’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Phio Pharmaceuticals is more favorable than Mannatech.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Phio Pharmaceuticals and Mannatech”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Phio Pharmaceuticals	N/A	N/A	-$8.70 million	($1.38)	-0.74
Mannatech	$106.39 million	0.09	-$15.21 million	($6.71)	-0.70

Phio Pharmaceuticals has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Mannatech. Phio Pharmaceuticals is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Mannatech, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

57.3% of Phio Pharmaceuticals shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 13.0% of Mannatech shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Phio Pharmaceuticals shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 41.5% of Mannatech shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Phio Pharmaceuticals beats Mannatech on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Phio Pharmaceuticals

Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. engages in the development of immuno-oncology therapeutics in the United States. The company is developing PH-762, an INTASYL compound in Phase 1b dose-escalating clinical trials to reduce the expression of cell death protein 1 (PD-1), a protein that inhibits T cells’ ability to kill cancer cells; and PH-762 treated double positive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, which is in Phase 1 clinical trials to treat advanced melanoma and other advanced solid tumors. It is also developing PH-894, an INTASYL compound in IND enabling studies to silence BRD4, a protein that controls gene expression in both T cells and tumor cells, effecting the immune system and the tumor. The company was formerly known as RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation and changed its name to Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. in November 2018. Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

About Mannatech

Mannatech, Incorporated operates as a health and wellness company in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. The company develops, markets, and sells nutritional supplements; topical and skin care, and anti-aging products; and weight-management and fitness products. It primarily sells its products directly, as well as through e-commerce and network marketing channels. Mannatech, Incorporated was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas.