Agenus (NASDAQ:AGEN) and Janux Therapeutics (NASDAQ:JANX) Head-To-Head Review

Janux Therapeutics (NASDAQ:JANX) and Agenus (NASDAQ:AGEN) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

75.4% of Janux Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 61.5% of Agenus shares are owned by institutional investors. 7.9% of Janux Therapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.5% of Agenus 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.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Janux Therapeutics and Agenus”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Janux Therapeutics	$10.00 million	103.63	-$113.62 million	($1.64)	-10.34
Agenus	$114.20 million	3.91	$120,000.00	$2.58	3.83

Agenus has higher revenue and earnings than Janux Therapeutics. Janux Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Agenus, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Janux Therapeutics has a beta of 2.53, suggesting that its stock price is 153% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Agenus has a beta of 1.38, suggesting that its stock price is 38% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Janux Therapeutics and Agenus’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Janux Therapeutics	N/A	-11.89%	-11.13%
Agenus	69.33%	-47.68%	57.73%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Janux Therapeutics and Agenus, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Janux Therapeutics	2	2	10	1	2.67
Agenus	1	1	4	0	2.50

Janux Therapeutics currently has a consensus price target of $36.46, suggesting a potential upside of 115.11%. Agenus has a consensus price target of $24.50, suggesting a potential upside of 147.72%. Given Agenus’ higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Agenus is more favorable than Janux Therapeutics.

Summary

Janux Therapeutics beats Agenus on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Janux Therapeutics

Janux Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, develops immunotherapies based on Tumor Activated T Cell Engagers (TRACTr) and Tumor Activated Immunomodulators (TRACIr) platforms technology to treat patients suffering from cancer. The company's clinical candidates comprise JANX007, a prostate-specific membrane antigen or PSMA-TRACTr, which is in Phase 1 clinical trial in adults for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and the vasculature of other tumors; and JANX008, an epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR-TRACTr that is in Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of multiple solid cancers, including colorectal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, non-small cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma. Its development pipeline also consists of discovery stage products. The company has strategic research collaboration agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. to develop TRACTr product candidates. Janux Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

About Agenus

Agenus Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, discovers and develops immuno-oncology products in the United States and internationally. The company offers Retrocyte Display, an antibody expression platform for the identification of fully human and humanized monoclonal antibodies; and display technologies. It develops QS-21 Stimulon adjuvant, a saponin-based vaccine adjuvant. The company also develops Balstilimab, an anti-PD-1 antagonist that has completed Phase II clinical trial to treat second line cervical cancer; AGEN1181, an antigen 4 (CTLA-4) blocking antibody that is in Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and and melanoma; AGEN2373, a CD137 monospecific antibody that is in Phase 1b clinical trial; AGEN1423, a CD73/TGFß TRAP antibody; AGEN1571, an ILT2 monospecific antibody that is in Phase 1 clinical trial; and BMS-986442, a TIGIT bispecific antibodies. In addition, it develops INCAGN1876, a GITR agonist; INCAGN2390, a TIM-3 monospecific antibody; INCAGN2385, a LAG-3 monospecific antibody; MK-4830, a monospecific antibody targeting ILT4 that is in Phase 2 clinical trial; UGN-301, a zalifrelimab intravesical solution for the treatment of cancers of the urinary tract that is in a Phase 1 clinical trial; and AGEN1884, a first-generation anti-CTLA-4 monospecific antibody. The company operates under Agenus, MiNK, Prophage, Retrocyte Display, and Stimulon trademarks. It has collaborations with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Betta Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., Incyte Corporation, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. The company was formerly known as Antigenics Inc. and changed its name to Agenus Inc. in January 2011. Agenus Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts.