Embecta (NASDAQ:EMBC – Get Free Report) and SeaStar Medical (NASDAQ:ICU – Get Free Report) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, risk, dividends, profitability and analyst recommendations.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Embecta and SeaStar Medical”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Embecta | $1.08 billion | 0.20 | $95.40 million | $1.90 | 1.92 |
| SeaStar Medical | $1.23 million | 10.18 | -$12.15 million | ($4.80) | -0.65 |
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Embecta and SeaStar Medical, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Embecta | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.60 |
| SeaStar Medical | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 |
Embecta presently has a consensus price target of $11.00, suggesting a potential upside of 202.20%. SeaStar Medical has a consensus price target of $8.00, suggesting a potential upside of 155.59%. Given Embecta’s higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Embecta is more favorable than SeaStar Medical.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
93.8% of Embecta shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 1.7% of SeaStar Medical shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Embecta shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of SeaStar Medical shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Risk & Volatility
Embecta has a beta of 0.83, meaning that its stock price is 17% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SeaStar Medical has a beta of -1.05, meaning that its stock price is 205% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability
This table compares Embecta and SeaStar Medical’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Embecta | 10.73% | -23.96% | 14.12% |
| SeaStar Medical | -828.62% | -146.29% | -96.48% |
Summary
Embecta beats SeaStar Medical on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Embecta
Embecta Corp., a medical device company, focuses on the provision of various solutions to enhance the health and wellbeing of people living with diabetes. Its products include pen needles, syringes, and safety injection devices, as well as digital applications to assist people with managing patient's diabetes. The company primarily sells its products to wholesalers and distributors in the United States and internationally. Embecta Corp. was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey.
About SeaStar Medical
SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation, a medical device company, develops a platform therapy to reduce the consequences of hyperinflammation on vital organs in the United States. The company offers inflammatory response to fend off infections and repair damaged tissue in the body. It is also developing products in various therapeutic areas, including pediatric and adult acute kidney injury on CRRT; cardiorenal syndrome in congestive heart failure; myocardial stunning in end stage renal disease; and hepatorenal syndrome. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
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