Reviewing Virios Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VIRI) and Lite Strategy (NASDAQ:LITS)

Lite Strategy (NASDAQ:LITS) and Virios Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VIRI) are both small-cap manufacturing companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Lite Strategy and Virios Therapeutics”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Lite Strategy	N/A	N/A	-$15.94 million	($2.07)	-0.92
Virios Therapeutics	N/A	N/A	-$5.30 million	($0.27)	-20.63

Virios Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lite Strategy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Lite Strategy has a beta of 0.3, indicating that its stock price is 70% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Virios Therapeutics has a beta of 1.58, indicating that its stock price is 58% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

52.4% of Lite Strategy shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 9.1% of Virios Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.1% of Lite Strategy shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.2% of Virios Therapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Lite Strategy and Virios Therapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Lite Strategy	N/A	-69.70%	-60.80%
Virios Therapeutics	N/A	-130.33%	-115.00%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Lite Strategy and Virios Therapeutics, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Lite Strategy	1	0	0	0	1.00
Virios Therapeutics	0	0	0	0	0.00

Summary

Lite Strategy beats Virios Therapeutics on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Lite Strategy

MEI Pharma, Inc., a late-stage pharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of various therapies for the treatment of cancer. The company develops Zandelisib, an oral phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta inhibitor that is in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, as well as in Phase Ib multi-arm trial to treat B-cell malignancies; and Voruciclib, an oral cyclin-dependent kinase 9 inhibitor, which is in Phase Ib clinical trial for acute myeloid leukemia and B-cell malignancies. It also develops ME-344, a mitochondrial inhibitor targeting the oxidative phosphorylation complex that is in Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer; and Pracinostat, an oral available histone deacetylase inhibitor, which is in Phase II clinical trial to treat patients with myelodysplastic syndrome. MEI Pharma, Inc. has a license, development, and commercialization agreement with Kyowa Kirin Company; a clinical collaboration with BeiGene, Ltd.; a license, development, manufacturing, and commercialization agreement with Helsinn Healthcare SA; and a license agreement with Presage Biosciences, Inc. The company was formerly known as Marshall Edwards, Inc. and changed its name to MEI Pharma, Inc. in July 2012. MEI Pharma, Inc. was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

About Virios Therapeutics

Virios Therapeutics, Inc., a development-stage biotechnology company, focuses on developing novel antiviral therapies to treat diseases associated with a viral triggered abnormal immune response. The company's lead development candidate is the IMC-1, a fixed dose combination of famciclovir and celecoxib to treat fibromyalgia. It also develops IMC-2, a combination of valacyclovir and celecoxib for the treatment of managing the fatigue, sleep, attention, pain, autonomic function, and anxiety associated with long COVID. The company was formerly known as Innovative Med Concepts, LLC and changed its name to Virios Therapeutics, Inc. in July 2020. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia.