Comparing Nabriva Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NBRV) and Spruce Biosciences (NASDAQ:SPRB)

Spruce Biosciences (NASDAQ:SPRB) and Nabriva Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NBRV) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations and risk.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Spruce Biosciences and Nabriva Therapeutics”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Spruce Biosciences	$1.30 million	42.32	-$53.04 million	($86.21)	-1.27
Nabriva Therapeutics	$35.59 million	0.00	-$57.19 million	($19.20)	N/A

Spruce Biosciences has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Nabriva Therapeutics. Spruce Biosciences is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nabriva Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Spruce Biosciences and Nabriva Therapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Spruce Biosciences	N/A	-177.45%	-118.06%
Nabriva Therapeutics	-148.11%	-365.53%	-135.81%

Volatility and Risk

Spruce Biosciences has a beta of 2.47, indicating that its share price is 147% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Nabriva Therapeutics has a beta of 1.53, indicating that its share price is 53% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Spruce Biosciences and Nabriva Therapeutics, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Spruce Biosciences	1	6	3	0	2.20
Nabriva Therapeutics	0	0	0	0	0.00

Spruce Biosciences presently has a consensus price target of $176.38, indicating a potential upside of 61.04%. Given Spruce Biosciences’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Spruce Biosciences is more favorable than Nabriva Therapeutics.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

91.7% of Spruce Biosciences shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.3% of Nabriva Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 6.9% of Spruce Biosciences shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.6% of Nabriva Therapeutics shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Spruce Biosciences beats Nabriva Therapeutics on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Spruce Biosciences

Spruce Biosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders. The company engages in developing tildacerfont, a non-steroidal therapy to enhance disease control and reduce steroid burden for patients suffering from congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which is in Phase 2b clinical trial; and to evaluate glucocorticoid reduction in adult patients with classic CAH that is Phase 2b clinical trial. It is also developing tildacerfont for the treatment of pediatric classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia in children that is in Phase 2 clinical trial; and for females with polycystic ovary syndrome, which is in Phase 2 clinical trial. Spruce Biosciences, Inc. has a license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to research, develop, and commercialize compounds for various pharmaceutical uses; and collaboration and license agreement with Kaken Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to develop, manufacture, and commercialize tildacerfont for the treatment of CAH in Japan. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.

About Nabriva Therapeutics

Nabriva Therapeutics plc, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development and commercialization of novel anti-infective agents to treat serious infections. The company's product includes SIVEXTRO, an oxazolidinone-class antibacterial for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI); and XENLETA, a semi-synthetic pleuromutilin antibiotic for oral and IV administration. It also develops XENLETA that is in Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of pediatric infections, as well as sexually transmitted infections, cystic fibrosis, ABSSSI, ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia, complicated intra-abdominal infections, hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia, acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, osteomyelitis, and prosthetic joint infections. In addition, the company develops CONTEPO, an epoxide antibiotic for use in treating complicated urinary tract infections, as well as is in Phase I clinical trial for peri-operative prophylaxis. The company was formerly known as Nabriva Therapeutics Forschungs GmbH and changed its name to Nabriva Therapeutics plc in 2007. Nabriva Therapeutics plc was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.