Analyzing electroCore (NASDAQ:ECOR) and OraSure Technologies (NASDAQ:OSUR)

OraSure Technologies (NASDAQ:OSUR) and electroCore (NASDAQ:ECOR) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

93.5% of OraSure Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.7% of electroCore shares are held by institutional investors. 4.7% of OraSure Technologies shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 7.8% of electroCore shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares OraSure Technologies and electroCore”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
OraSure Technologies	$115.02 million	2.34	-$68.73 million	($0.69)	-5.65
electroCore	$32.03 million	2.72	-$13.97 million	($1.66)	-5.82

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

Profitability

This table compares OraSure Technologies and electroCore’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
OraSure Technologies	-43.70%	-19.09%	-16.26%
electroCore	-39.96%	N/A	-81.35%

Risk and Volatility

OraSure Technologies has a beta of 1.03, indicating that its stock price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, electroCore has a beta of 1.05, indicating that its stock price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for OraSure Technologies and electroCore, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
OraSure Technologies	1	2	0	0	1.67
electroCore	1	1	1	0	2.00

OraSure Technologies presently has a consensus target price of $3.00, suggesting a potential downside of 23.08%. electroCore has a consensus target price of $18.00, suggesting a potential upside of 86.34%. Given electroCore’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe electroCore is more favorable than OraSure Technologies.

Summary

electroCore beats OraSure Technologies on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About OraSure Technologies

OraSure Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides point-of-care and home diagnostic tests, specimen collection devices, and microbiome laboratory and analytical services in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company’s products include InteliSwab COVID-19 rapid test, InteliSwab COVID-19 rapid test pro, InteliSwab COVID-19 rapid test rx, OraQuick Rapid HIV test, OraQuick In-Home HIV test, OraQuick HIV self-test, OraQuick HCV rapid antibody test, OraQuick Ebola rapid antigen test, OraSure oral fluid collection device used in conjunction with screening and confirmatory tests for HIV-1 antibodies; Intercept drug testing systems; immunoassay tests and reagents; and Q.E.D. saliva alcohol test. It also offers genomic products under the Oragene and ORAcollect brands for collecting genetic material from human saliva; Colli-Pee collection devices for the volumetric collection of void urine samples; and microbiome laboratory testing and analytical services. In addition, the company provides microbiome products, such as OMNIgene GUT for self-collecting microbial DNA from feces or stool samples for gut microbiome profiling; OMNIgene GUT DNA and RNA collection devices; and OMNIgene GUT Dx collection device for collection of human fecal samples and the stabilization of DNA from the bacterial community. Additionally, it provides other diagnostic products, such as immunoassays and other in vitro diagnostic tests. The company markets its products to clinical laboratories, hospitals, clinics, community-based organizations and other public health organizations, distributors, government agencies, physicians’ offices, commercial and industrial entities, disease risk management, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, biotech, nutrition, companion animal, and environmental markets. OraSure Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

About electroCore

electroCore, Inc., a commercial stage bioelectronic medicine and wellness company, provides non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation technology platform in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company is developing gammaCore, a prescription only handheld device intended for regular or intermittent use for the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine and episodic cluster headache, as well as for the treatment of hemicrania continua and paroxysmal hemicrania. It also develops Truvaga for the support of general health and wellbeing; and TAC-STIM for human performance. In addition, the company offers gammacore Sapphire, a portable, reusable, rechargeable, and reloadable prescription medical device for various primary headache conditions. electroCore, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Rockaway, New Jersey.