Head to Head Analysis: Biodesix (NASDAQ:BDSX) versus XWELL (NASDAQ:XWEL)

Biodesix (NASDAQ:BDSX) and XWELL (NASDAQ:XWEL) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends and earnings.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Biodesix and XWELL, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Biodesix	1	1	4	0	2.50
XWELL	1	0	0	0	1.00

Biodesix presently has a consensus target price of $32.50, suggesting a potential upside of 441.67%. Given Biodesix’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Biodesix is more favorable than XWELL.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

21.0% of Biodesix shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 8.7% of XWELL shares are owned by institutional investors. 30.1% of Biodesix shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 13.9% of XWELL shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Biodesix and XWELL’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Biodesix	-53.66%	-269.67%	-43.94%
XWELL	-63.18%	-265.41%	-72.67%

Risk & Volatility

Biodesix has a beta of 0.98, suggesting that its stock price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, XWELL has a beta of 1.06, suggesting that its stock price is 6% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Biodesix and XWELL”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Biodesix	$71.32 million	0.62	-$42.93 million	($5.80)	-1.03
XWELL	$33.90 million	0.16	-$16.85 million	($4.10)	-0.24

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

Summary

Biodesix beats XWELL on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Biodesix

Biodesix, Inc. operates as a data-driven diagnostic solutions company in the United States. The company offers blood-based lung tests, including Nodify XL2 and Nodify CDT tests, together marketed as part of Nodify Lung Nodule Risk Assessment testing strategy, to assess the risk of lung cancer and help in identifying the appropriate treatment pathway and help physicians in reclassifying risk of malignancy in patients with suspicious lung nodules. It also provides GeneStrat ddPCR and NGS, and VeriStrat tests, which are used in the diagnosis of lung cancer to measure the presence of mutations in the tumor and the state of the patient's immune system to establish the patient's prognosis and help guide treatment decisions. In addition, the company, through its partnership with Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., provides Bio-Rad SARS-CoV-2 ddPCR, a COVID-19 Test under Biodesix WorkSafe testing program; and Platelia SARS-CoV-2 Total Ab test, an antibody test for detecting a B-cell immune response to SARS-CoV-2 that indicate recent or prior infection. Further, it offers diagnostic and clinical research, as well as clinical trial testing services to biopharmaceutical companies; and discovers, develops, and commercializes companion diagnostics. The company was formerly known as Elston Technologies, Inc. and as changed to Biodesix, Inc. in 2006. Biodesix, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado.

About XWELL

XWELL, Inc. provides health and wellness services in airport and off airport marketplaces in the United States and internationally. It operates in four segments: XpresSpa, XpresTest, Naples Wax Center, and Treat. The XpresSpa segment traveler's spa services, including massage, nail, and skin care services, as well as spa and travel products. The XpresTest segment offers diagnostic COVID-19 tests at XpresCheck Wellness Centers in airports, to airport employees and to the traveling public but has transitioned to the CDC's bio-surveillance program; and provides marketing support through HyperPointe business to various health and health-related channels. The Napple Wax Center segment offers skincare and cometic products, as well as face and body waxing services. The Treat segment provides access to wellness services for travelers at on-site centers, consisting of self-guided yoga, meditation, and low impact weight exercises programs. The company offers its services through stores, kiosks, and online. The company was formerly known as XpresSpa Group, Inc. and changed its name to XWELL, Inc. in October 2022. XWELL, Inc. is based in New York, New York.