Agenus (NASDAQ:AGEN – Get Free Report) and VistaGen Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VTGN – 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 risk, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability and dividends.
Profitability
This table compares Agenus and VistaGen 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% |
| VistaGen Therapeutics | -2,702.64% | -152.59% | -117.45% |
Risk and Volatility
Agenus has a beta of 1.31, suggesting that its stock price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, VistaGen Therapeutics has a beta of 0.33, suggesting that its stock price is 67% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Agenus | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2.50 |
| VistaGen Therapeutics | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1.80 |
Agenus currently has a consensus target price of $24.50, suggesting a potential upside of 194.12%. VistaGen Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $0.95, suggesting a potential upside of 236.16%. Given VistaGen Therapeutics’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe VistaGen Therapeutics is more favorable than Agenus.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares Agenus and VistaGen Therapeutics”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Agenus | $114.20 million | 3.29 | $120,000.00 | $2.58 | 3.23 |
| VistaGen Therapeutics | $1.27 million | 9.88 | -$69.68 million | ($1.66) | -0.17 |
Agenus has higher revenue and earnings than VistaGen Therapeutics. VistaGen Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Agenus, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
61.5% of Agenus shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 78.4% of VistaGen Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 6.5% of Agenus shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.9% of VistaGen Therapeutics shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Agenus beats VistaGen Therapeutics on 11 of the 14 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 VistaGen Therapeutics
Vistagen Therapeutics, Inc., a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, primarily focus to transform the treatment landscape for individuals living with anxiety, depression, and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The company's pipeline includes six clinical stage product candidates, including five investigational agents belonging to drugs known as pherines. Its product pipeline comprises PH94B, a fasedienol nasal spray, which is in Phase III development for the treatment of social anxiety disorder; and PH10, a Ituvone nasal spray which is in Phase II development for the treatment of major depressive disorder. In addition, the company is also developing PH15, an early-stage investigational synthetic neuroactive steroid for the treatment of cognition improvement; PH80, an odorless and tasteless synthetic investigational pherine for the treatment of menopausal hot flashes and migraine; PH284, an early-stage investigational synthetic neuroactive steroid for the treatment of wasting syndrome Cachexia; and AV-101, an oral nmdr glycine site antagonist for depression and neurological disorders. Further, it has a license and collaboration agreement with EverInsight Therapeutics Inc. to develop and commercialize to address ophthalmologic and CNS disorders. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.
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