Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX – Get Free Report) and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:TARS – Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, risk and analyst recommendations.
Profitability
This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals’ 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% |
| Tarsus Pharmaceuticals | -103.64% | -55.86% | -39.28% |
Risk and Volatility
Protalix BioTherapeutics has a beta of -0.21, suggesting that its share price is 121% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals has a beta of 0.83, suggesting that its share price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings & Valuation
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | $59.76 million | 1.90 | $8.31 million | $0.04 | 35.75 |
| Tarsus Pharmaceuticals | $233.67 million | 7.42 | -$135.89 million | ($2.73) | -15.12 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Tarsus Pharmaceuticals. Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Protalix BioTherapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
16.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 90.0% of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 9.0% of Tarsus Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Protalix BioTherapeutics and Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Protalix BioTherapeutics | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Tarsus Pharmaceuticals | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3.00 |
Protalix BioTherapeutics presently has a consensus price target of $15.00, suggesting a potential upside of 948.95%. Tarsus Pharmaceuticals has a consensus price target of $66.67, suggesting a potential upside of 61.46%. Given Protalix BioTherapeutics’ higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Protalix BioTherapeutics is more favorable than Tarsus Pharmaceuticals.
Summary
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals beats Protalix BioTherapeutics on 8 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 Tarsus Pharmaceuticals
Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutic candidates for eye care in the United States. The company's lead product candidate is XDEMVY, a novel therapeutic for the treatment of blepharitis caused by the infestation of Demodex mites, as well as to treat meibomian gland disease. It is developing TP-04 for the treatment of rosacea; and TP-05 for Lyme prophylaxis and community malaria reduction. In addition, the company develops lotilaner to address diseases across therapeutic categories in human medicine, including eye care, dermatology, and other infectious disease prevention. Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.
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