6 Undervalued Biotechnology Stocks for Friday, October 04

By Tudor Pop
October 04, 2024
Diamond graphic indicating best value stocks in their industry
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Based on key financial metrics such as the price-to-sales ratio, shareholder yield and the price-earnings ratio, the following 6 stocks made the list for top value stocks in the Biotechnology industry. Those looking for value stocks to add to their portfolio may want to use this list as a starting point for further investment research.

Why Focus on Undervalued Biotechnology Stocks?

Value investors seek to buy stocks at a discount to their intrinsic value. Long-term returns show that such strategies are advantageous. Value stocks, as a group, tend to outperform growth stocks over extended periods of time. Typically, value investors perform financial analysis of numerous metrics, don’t follow the herd and are long-term investors.

AAII’s A+ Investor Value Grade is derived from a stock’s Value Score. The Value Score is the percentile rank of the average of the percentile ranks of the price-to-sales ratio, price-earnings ratio, enterprise-value-to-EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, shareholder yield, price-to-book-value ratio and price-to-free-cash-flow ratio. The score is variable, meaning it can consider all six ratios or, should any of the six ratios not be valid, the remaining ratios that are valid. To be assigned a Value Score, stocks must have a valid (non-null) ratio and corresponding ranking for at least two of the six valuation ratios.

What Goes Into AAII’s Value Grade?

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data as well as the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movement. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors with that task.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A–F grades for more than just value. It is possible for a stock to appear cheap based on one valuation metric but appear expensive on another. It is also possible for one valuation ratio to be associated with outperforming stocks during certain periods of time but not others. Some stocks may even have null values for certain metrics like the price-earnings ratio or the price-to-book ratio but not others. An example of this would be a company with losses instead of profits or a negative book value because of heavy borrowing. Negative earnings or book value result in non-meaningful ratios that are left blank or null.

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6 Undervalued Biotechnology Stocks

Of course, there are countless value stocks that are worth mentioning, but this is a concise list of the top 6 undervalued stocks in the Biotechnology industry for Friday, October 04, 2024. Let’s take a closer look at their individual scores to see how they measure up against each other and the Biotechnology industry median.

Company Ticker Price/Sales Price/Earnings EV/EBITDA Shareholder Yield Price/Book Value Price/Free Cash Flow Value Grade
Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. DRMA na na 0.3 (275.3%) 0.15 na B
Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. KTTA na na 0.5 20.1% 0.23 na A
Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. LSTA na na 0.9 (3.6%) 0.51 na A
Spero Therapeutics, Inc. SPRO 0.58 4.0 0.5 (2.6%) 0.65 na A
Protara Therapeutics, Inc. TARA na na 1.1 (87.8%) 0.55 na B
Theriva Biologics, Inc. TOVX na na 0.5 (27.9%) 0.03 na A

The Value Grade is assigned based on how each stock’s composite valuation compares to all other stocks.

The process for assigning grades starts with each variable for a given stock. The percentile rankings for all valid ratios that a stock has are calculated. So, for instance, a stock could have a price-to-book ranking in the 43rd percentile, a price-earnings ranking in the 67th percentile, a price-to-sales ranking in the 23rd percentile, etc. Then, those rankings are averaged for each stock. (A minimum of two valid variables are required, though all six will be used if available.)

Once the average of the individual variables is calculated, that average is ranked against all stocks. Put another way, each stock’s composite valuation is compared to all other stocks. These ranks are then sorted into quintiles from the cheapest 20% (a grade of A) to the most expensive 20% (a grade of F).

As always, we recommend that you conduct proper due diligence and research before investing in any security. We also suggest that investors utilize numerous grades, not just value, when it comes to deciding whether a company is a good fit for their allocation needs.

Dermata Therapeutics, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score DRMA Industry Median
Price/Sales na na 7.23
Price/Earnings na na 25.2
EV/EBITDA 1 0.3 0.8
Shareholder Yield 98 (275.3%) (16.7%)
Price/Book Value 4 0.15 1.96
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 28.8

Dermata Therapeutics, Inc., a late-stage medical dermatology company, focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing pharmaceutical product candidates for the treatment of medical and aesthetic skin conditions and diseases. The company’s lead product candidate is DMT310, which has completed Phase IIb clinical trial for treatment of moderate-to-severe acne; and Phase Ib proof of concept (POC) trial for Mild-to-Moderate Psoriasis, as well as is in a Phase 2 clinical trial for treatment of moderate-to-severe rosacea. It is also developing DMT410 that has completed Phase Ib POC trials for the treatment of anxillary hyperhidrosis and aesthetic conditions. Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. has a Value Score of 76, which is considered to be undervalued.

Now, let’s assess Dermata Therapeutics, Inc.’s EV/EBITDA ratio, also known as enterprise multiple. At 0.3, when compared to the industry median of 0.8, the company may be considered undervalued in relation to its peers. Value investors could use the enterprise multiple to identify stocks that are considered overvalued or undervalued relative to their industry.

Shareholder yield is the sum of a stock’s dividend yield (paid over previous 12 months minus special dividends) and the percentage of net share buybacks over the previous 12 months. Dermata Therapeutics, Inc.’s shareholder yield is lower than its industry median ratio of (16.65%). Value investors may look for an attractive shareholder yield because it can be a powerful tool for identifying if the company has a good management team.

As one of the most common value metrics, the price-to-book ratio evaluates a company’s current market price relative to its book value. Dermata Therapeutics, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is lower than its industry median ratio of 1.96. This could make Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. more attractive to investors looking for a new addition to their portfolio.

Pasithea Therapeutics Corp.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score KTTA Industry Median
Price/Sales na na 7.23
Price/Earnings na na 25.2
EV/EBITDA 2 0.5 0.8
Shareholder Yield 1 20.1% (16.7%)
Price/Book Value 6 0.23 1.96
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 28.8

Pasithea Therapeutics Corp., a biotechnology company, engages in discovery, research, and development of treatments for central nervous system disorders, RASopathies, and other diseases. Its lead product candidate PAS-004, a next-generation macrocyclic mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MEK inhibitor for use in the treatment of a range of RASopathies, including neurofibromatosis type 1 oncology indications. The company intends to develop PAS-003, to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; and PAS-001, to treat schizophrenia. Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. was incorporated in 2020 and is headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. has a Value Score of 100, which is considered to be undervalued.

Pasithea Therapeutics Corp.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.96.

You can read more about Pasithea Therapeutics Corp.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score LSTA Industry Median
Price/Sales na na 7.23
Price/Earnings na na 25.2
EV/EBITDA 3 0.9 0.8
Shareholder Yield 72 (3.6%) (16.7%)
Price/Book Value 14 0.51 1.96
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 28.8

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of solid tumors and other diseases. Its product candidates include LSTA1, which is in Phase 2a and 2b clinical studies for the treatment of solid tumor, including metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC), in combination with a range of anti-cancer regimens; XOWNA that is in Phase IIa clinical trial for the treatment of coronary microvascular dysfunction; and CD34+ cell therapy for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 1980 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. has a Value Score of 84, which is considered to be undervalued.

Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.96.

You can read more about Lisata Therapeutics, Inc.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Spero Therapeutics, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score SPRO Industry Median
Price/Sales 22 0.58 7.23
Price/Earnings 3 4.0 25.2
EV/EBITDA 2 0.5 0.8
Shareholder Yield 69 (2.6%) (16.7%)
Price/Book Value 18 0.65 1.96
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 28.8

Spero Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on identifying, developing, and commercializing novel treatments for multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and rare diseases in the United States. The company’s product candidates include tebipenem pivoxil hydrobromide (HBr), an oral carbapenem-class antibiotic to treat complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis for adults; SPR206, an intravenous-administered antibiotic against MDR Gram-negative pathogens comprising carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales (CRE), acinetobacter baumannii, and pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as negative bacterial infections in the hospital setting; and SPR720, a novel oral antibiotic agent for the treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. It has license agreement with Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. to support the development of tebipenem HBr; Everest Medicines to develop, manufacture, and commercialize SPR206 in Greater China, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries; and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated for patents relating to SPR720, as well as SPR719, an active metabolite. Spero Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Spero Therapeutics, Inc. has a Value Score of 93, which is considered to be undervalued.

Spero Therapeutics, Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 4.0 compared to the industry median at 25.2. This means that it has a lower price relative to its earnings compared to its peers. This makes Spero Therapeutics, Inc. more attractive for value investors.

Spero Therapeutics, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Spero Therapeutics, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.96.

You can read more about Spero Therapeutics, Inc.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Protara Therapeutics, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score TARA Industry Median
Price/Sales na na 7.23
Price/Earnings na na 25.2
EV/EBITDA 4 1.1 0.8
Shareholder Yield 95 (87.8%) (16.7%)
Price/Book Value 15 0.55 1.96
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 28.8

Protara Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, engages in advancing transformative therapies for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases. The company’s lead program is TARA-002, an investigational cell therapy, which is in Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and lymphatic malformations. It is also developing intravenous choline chloride, an investigational phospholipid substrate replacement therapy that is in Phase II clinical trial for patients receiving parenteral nutrition. The company is headquartered in New York, New York.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Protara Therapeutics, Inc. has a Value Score of 68, which is considered to be undervalued.

Protara Therapeutics, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Protara Therapeutics, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.96.

You can read more about Protara Therapeutics, Inc.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

Theriva Biologics, Inc.’s Value Grade

Value Grade:

Metric Score TOVX Industry Median
Price/Sales na na 7.23
Price/Earnings na na 25.2
EV/EBITDA 2 0.5 0.8
Shareholder Yield 87 (27.9%) (16.7%)
Price/Book Value 1 0.03 1.96
Price/Free Cash Flow na na 28.8

Theriva Biologics, Inc., a clinical-stage company, develops therapeutics to treat cancer and related diseases in areas of high unmet need in the United States. The company’s lead product candidate is VCN-01, a clinical stage oncolytic human adenovirus that is in a Phase 2 clinical study for the treatment of pancreatic cancer; a Phase 1 clinical study for the treatment of retinalblastoma; a Phase 1 clinical study for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; and a Phase 1 clinical study for the treatment of solid tumors. It also develops VCN-11 for treating solid tumors; SYN-004 designed to degrade various commonly used intravenous beta-lactam antibiotics in gastrointestinal (GI) tract for the prevention of microbiome damage to prevent overgrowth and infection by pathogenic organisms, such Clostridioides difficile infection and vancomycin resistant Enterococci, and reducing the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients; and SYN-020, a recombinant oral formulation for the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase to treat both local GI and systemic diseases. In addition, the company develops clinical stage products, such as SYN-006 to prevent aGVHD and infection by carbapenem resistant enterococci; and SYN-007 for preventing antibiotic associated diarrhea with oral ß-lactam antibiotics. It has collaboration agreements with The University of Texas at Austin, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Fundació Privada Institut d’Investigacio Biomedica de Bellvitge, Saint Joan De Déu, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as a clinical trial agreement with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to conduct a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SYN-004. Theriva Biologics, Inc. is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.

Stocks with a Value Score from 81 to 100 are considered deep value, those with a score between 61 and 80 are value and so on.

Theriva Biologics, Inc. has a Value Score of 84, which is considered to be undervalued.

Theriva Biologics, Inc.’s price-to-book ratio is higher than its peers. This could make Theriva Biologics, Inc. less attractive for value investors when compared to the industry median at 1.96.

You can read more about Theriva Biologics, Inc.’s key financial metrics like shareholder yield, price-to-free-cash-flow and EV/EBITDA ratio, or learn more about its Momentum and Growth Grades, by subscribing to A+ Investor.

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Other Biotechnology Stock Grades

Value is just one of the five Stock Grades included in our A+ Investor service. AAII members can see the top-graded stocks—those with grades of A or B for value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality—on the A+ Stock Grades Screener.

Also, if you want full access to all of AAII’s premium services, you can subscribe to one convenient bundled plan called AAII Platinum where you can try out A+ Investor, AAII Dividend Investing, the Stock Superstars Report, Growth Investing and VMQ Stocks. With the other premium services, you can dive deep into additional metrics, portfolios, commentary and information about Biotechnology stocks as well as other industrys.

Choosing Which of the 6 Best Biotechnology Stocks Is Right for You

Choosing which value stocks to invest in will ultimately depend on your individual goals and allocation; however, comparing similar value stocks in the same industry can help you analyze which might be better investments for you in the long run. So, let’s take a look at the Value Grade for all of our stocks.

  • Dermata Therapeutics, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Lisata Therapeutics, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Spero Therapeutics, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.
  • Protara Therapeutics, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of B.
  • Theriva Biologics, Inc. stock has a Value Grade of A.

Now that you have a bit more background about each of the 6 undervalued stocks in the Biotechnology industry as well as their overall grades, it’s time for you to conduct additional research to see if these could fit your portfolio needs based on your goals and risk tolerance. AAII can help you figure out both and identify which investments align with what works best for you.

We do so through a program of education that teaches you to invest for yourself and become an effective manager of your own wealth—no more relying on others for your financial independence. You can rely on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis that makes you a better investor.

A+ Investor adds to that qualitative teaching by giving you a powerful data suite that helps you whittle down investment decisions to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

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Additional Resources About Biotechnology Stocks

Want to learn more about Biotechnology stocks to see if they could be the right investment for you? Check out some additional resources and articles to help you on your financial journey.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.



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