Head-To-Head Analysis: bluebird bio (NASDAQ:BLUE) versus SAB Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:SABS)

bluebird bio (NASDAQ:BLUE) and SAB Biotherapeutics (NASDAQ:SABS) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, profitability, earnings and risk.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares bluebird bio and SAB Biotherapeutics”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
bluebird bio	$53.12 million	1.43	-$211.91 million	($37.40)	-0.21
SAB Biotherapeutics	$2.24 million	16.89	-$42.19 million	N/A	N/A

SAB Biotherapeutics has lower revenue, but higher earnings than bluebird bio.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for bluebird bio and SAB Biotherapeutics, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
bluebird bio	2	6	2	0	2.00
SAB Biotherapeutics	0	0	5	0	3.00

bluebird bio currently has a consensus target price of $49.14, indicating a potential upside of 530.85%. SAB Biotherapeutics has a consensus target price of $12.40, indicating a potential upside of 202.44%. Given bluebird bio’s higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe bluebird bio is more favorable than SAB Biotherapeutics.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

87.4% of bluebird bio shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 7.8% of SAB Biotherapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.4% of bluebird bio shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 26.5% of SAB Biotherapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares bluebird bio and SAB Biotherapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
bluebird bio	-565.74%	-322.46%	-53.17%
SAB Biotherapeutics	-1,450.14%	-94.37%	-67.26%

Risk & Volatility

bluebird bio has a beta of 0.72, suggesting that its share price is 28% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SAB Biotherapeutics has a beta of 0.59, suggesting that its share price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About bluebird bio

bluebird bio, Inc., a biotechnology company, researches, develops, and commercializes gene therapies for severe genetic diseases. Its product candidates for severe genetic diseases include ZYNTEGLO (betibeglogene autotemcel) for the treatment of transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia; lovotibeglogene autotemcel for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD); and SKYSONA (elivaldogene autotemcel) to treat cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. The company’s clinical development programs include HGB-205, HGB-206, and HGB-210 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lovo-cel in the treatment of patients with SCD; and HGB-204, HGB-205, HGB-207, and HGB-212 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of beti-cel in the treatment of patients with ß-thalassemia. It has license agreement with Orchard Therapeutics Limited. The company was formerly known as Genetix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and changed its name to bluebird bio, Inc. in September 2010. bluebird bio, Inc. was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts.

About SAB Biotherapeutics

SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of human polyclonal immunotherapeutic antibodies to address immune system disorders and infectious diseases. It has applied advanced genetic engineering and antibody science to develop transchromosomic bovine herds that produce fully human antibodies targeted at infectious diseases and immune and autoimmune disorders, including infectious diseases, influenza, CDI, type 1 diabetes, organ transplantation, and oncology, as well as immunology, gastroenterology, and respiratory diseases. The company also uses its DiversitAb immunotherapy platform to produce fully-human polyclonal antibodies without the need for human donors or plasma. In addition, its lead product candidate SAB-142, a human, multi-target anti-thymocyte globulin treatment, currently under Phase 1 trials in delaying the onset or progression of type 1 diabetes. Further, the company develops SAB-176, a multivalent, broadly neutralizing – human polyclonal immunoglobulin therapeutic candidate, currently in Phase 2a development for the treatment or prevention of severe influenza. SAB Biotherapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida.