DiaMedica Therapeutics (NASDAQ:DMAC) and Agenus (NASDAQ:AGEN) Head-To-Head Contrast

Agenus (NASDAQ:AGEN) and DiaMedica Therapeutics (NASDAQ:DMAC) 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, profitability, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Volatility and Risk

Agenus has a beta of 1.4, meaning that its stock price is 40% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, DiaMedica Therapeutics has a beta of 1.01, meaning that its stock price is 1% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Agenus and DiaMedica Therapeutics”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Agenus	$114.20 million	3.02	$120,000.00	$2.58	2.97
DiaMedica Therapeutics	N/A	N/A	-$32.77 million	($0.72)	-8.88

Agenus has higher revenue and earnings than DiaMedica Therapeutics. DiaMedica Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Agenus, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Agenus and DiaMedica Therapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Agenus	69.33%	-47.68%	57.73%
DiaMedica Therapeutics	N/A	-77.76%	-69.43%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

61.5% of Agenus shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.1% of DiaMedica Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.5% of Agenus shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 5.0% of DiaMedica Therapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Agenus and DiaMedica Therapeutics, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Agenus	1	1	2	0	2.25
DiaMedica Therapeutics	1	0	4	0	2.60

Agenus currently has a consensus target price of $19.50, indicating a potential upside of 154.57%. DiaMedica Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $12.00, indicating a potential upside of 87.79%. Given Agenus’ higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Agenus is more favorable than DiaMedica Therapeutics.

Summary

Agenus beats DiaMedica Therapeutics on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Agenus

Agenus Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, discovers and develops immuno-oncology products in the United States and internationally. The company offers Retrocyte Display, an antibody expression platform for the identification of fully human and humanized monoclonal antibodies; and display technologies. It develops QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant, a saponin-based vaccine adjuvant. The company also develops Balstilimab, an anti-PD-1 antagonist that has completed Phase II clinical trial to treat second line cervical cancer; AGEN1181, an antigen 4 (CTLA-4) blocking antibody that is in Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and and melanoma; AGEN2373, a CD137 monospecific antibody that is in Phase 1b clinical trial; AGEN1423, a CD73/TGFß TRAP antibody; AGEN1571, an ILT2 monospecific antibody that is in Phase 1 clinical trial; and BMS-986442, a TIGIT bispecific antibodies. In addition, it develops INCAGN1876, a GITR agonist; INCAGN2390, a TIM-3 monospecific antibody; INCAGN2385, a LAG-3 monospecific antibody; MK-4830, a monospecific antibody targeting ILT4 that is in Phase 2 clinical trial; UGN-301, a zalifrelimab intravesical solution for the treatment of cancers of the urinary tract that is in a Phase 1 clinical trial; and AGEN1884, a first-generation anti-CTLA-4 monospecific antibody. The company operates under Agenus, MiNK, Prophage, Retrocyte Display, and Stimulon trademarks. It has collaborations with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Incyte Corporation, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. The company was formerly known as Antigenics Inc. and changed its name to Agenus Inc. in January 2011. Agenus Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts.

About DiaMedica Therapeutics

DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on improving the lives of people suffering from serious diseases with a focus on acute ischemic stroke. Its lead candidate is DM199, a pharmaceutically active recombinant form of the human tissue kallikrein-1 protein, which is in Phase II/III trials for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke, as well as that is in Phase 2 to treat cardio-renal disease. The company also develops DM300, which is in preclinical stage for the treatment of severe inflammatory diseases. In addition, it develops treatment for neurological disease. The company was formerly known as DiaMedica Inc. and changed its name to DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. in December 2016. DiaMedica Therapeutics Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.