Critical Analysis: ProQR Therapeutics (PRQR) & Its Peers

ProQR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PRQR) is one of 844 publicly-traded companies in the “Biotechnology” industry, but how does it contrast to its rivals? We will compare ProQR Therapeutics to similar businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership and earnings.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings for ProQR Therapeutics and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
ProQR Therapeutics	1	1	6	0	2.62
ProQR Therapeutics Competitors	9828	15119	45430	1586	2.54

ProQR Therapeutics presently has a consensus target price of $7.60, indicating a potential upside of 462.96%. As a group, “Biotechnology” companies have a potential upside of 102.60%. Given ProQR Therapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe ProQR Therapeutics is more favorable than its rivals.

Risk and Volatility

ProQR Therapeutics has a beta of 0.29, suggesting that its stock price is 71% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ProQR Therapeutics’ rivals have a beta of 1.11, suggesting that their average stock price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares ProQR Therapeutics and its rivals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
ProQR Therapeutics	-223.51%	-73.83%	-35.14%
ProQR Therapeutics Competitors	-9,046.59%	-199.78%	-30.61%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

32.7% of ProQR Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 47.9% of shares of all “Biotechnology” companies are held by institutional investors. 8.4% of ProQR Therapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 13.1% of shares of all “Biotechnology” companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares ProQR Therapeutics and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Net Income	Price/Earnings Ratio
ProQR Therapeutics	$17.99 million	-$47.73 million	-2.93
ProQR Therapeutics Competitors	$691.14 million	$10.43 million	-15.00

ProQR Therapeutics’ rivals have higher revenue and earnings than ProQR Therapeutics. ProQR Therapeutics is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Summary

ProQR Therapeutics rivals beat ProQR Therapeutics on 7 of the 13 factors compared.

About ProQR Therapeutics

ProQR Therapeutics N.V., a biotechnology company, focuses on the discovery and development of novel therapeutic medicines. The company's products pipeline includes AX-0810 for cholestatic diseases targeting Na-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP); and AX-1412 for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) targeting Beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 (B4GALT1). It also develops various other early-stage research programs, including AX-1005 for undisclosed targets in CVDs; AX-2402, which focuses on Rett syndrome; AX-2911 for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); AX-0601 for obesity and Type 2 diabetes; and AX-9115 for rare metabolic condition, as well as various other targets. In addition, the company develops Axiomer RNA base-editing platform technology. It has a license agreement with Radboud University Medical Center; Inserm Transfert SA; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Vico Therapeutics B.V.; University of Rochester; and Leiden University Medical Center, as well as license and research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company for the discovery, development, and commercialization of potential new medicines for genetic disorders in the liver and nervous system. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands.