Financial Analysis: iSpecimen (NASDAQ:ISPC) vs. Standard BioTools (NASDAQ:LAB)

iSpecimen (NASDAQ:ISPC) and Standard BioTools (NASDAQ:LAB) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, earnings and dividends.

Risk & Volatility

iSpecimen has a beta of 1.66, meaning that its stock price is 66% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Standard BioTools has a beta of 1.4, meaning that its stock price is 40% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

13.6% of iSpecimen shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 53.7% of Standard BioTools shares are owned by institutional investors. 12.2% of iSpecimen shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 26.8% of Standard BioTools shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares iSpecimen and Standard BioTools’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
iSpecimen	-2,445.40%	-524.39%	-140.42%
Standard BioTools	100.36%	-7.57%	-6.14%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings for iSpecimen and Standard BioTools, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
iSpecimen	1	0	0	0	1.00
Standard BioTools	1	2	0	0	1.67

Standard BioTools has a consensus price target of $1.35, indicating a potential upside of 101.01%. Given Standard BioTools’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Standard BioTools is more favorable than iSpecimen.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares iSpecimen and Standard BioTools”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
iSpecimen	$1.93 million	1.87	-$10.49 million	($56.44)	-0.04
Standard BioTools	$85.33 million	3.09	-$74.90 million	$0.22	3.05

iSpecimen has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Standard BioTools. iSpecimen is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Standard BioTools, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Standard BioTools beats iSpecimen on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About iSpecimen

iSpecimen Inc. provides technology that connects life science researchers who need human biofluids, tissues, and living cells for their research with biospecimens available in healthcare provider organizations worldwide. Its cloud-based technology enables scientists to search for specimens and patients across a network of hospitals, clinics, private practice groups, laboratories, blood centers, biobanks, clinical research sites, and cadaveric donation centers. The company develops and operates iSpecimen Marketplace, a proprietary online marketplace platform that connects medical researchers who need access to subjects, samples, and data with hospitals, laboratories, and other organizations who have access to them. It serves biopharmaceutical companies, in vitro diagnostic companies, and government/academic institutions. iSpecimen Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts.

About Standard BioTools

Standard BioTools Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides instruments, consumables, reagents, and software services for researchers and clinical laboratories in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia pacific. It operates through two segments: Proteomics and Genomics. The company offers analytical systems, such as CyTOF XT System, a CyTOF XT mass cytometry system performs automated high-parameter single-cell analysis using antibodies conjugated to metal isotopes; and Hyperion XTi imaging system, a spatial biology instrument. It also provides genomics, such as X9 Real-Time PCR System, a real-time PCR analytical instrument including pre-processing steps for microfluidics-based workflows using (integrated fluidic circuit) IFCs; and IFC Controllers, a controller which is designed to work with IFC formats. In addition, the company offers analytical instruments comprising Biomark HD system, a real-time PCR analytical instrument for microfluidics-based workflows using prepared IFCs. It sells its products to academic research institutions; translational research and medicine centers; cancer centers; clinical research laboratories; biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and plant and animal research companies; and contract research organizations. It has license agreements with California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. The company was formerly known as Fluidigm Corporation and changed its name to Standard BioTools Inc. in April 2022. Fluidigm Corporation was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.