Comparing NeuroPace (NASDAQ:NPCE) & Minerva Surgical (NASDAQ:UTRS)

NeuroPace (NASDAQ:NPCE) and Minerva Surgical (NASDAQ:UTRS) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Risk & Volatility

NeuroPace has a beta of 2.02, suggesting that its stock price is 102% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Minerva Surgical has a beta of 3.96, suggesting that its stock price is 296% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares NeuroPace and Minerva Surgical’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
NeuroPace	-36.74%	-205.41%	-28.29%
Minerva Surgical	N/A	N/A	N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for NeuroPace and Minerva Surgical, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
NeuroPace	0	1	5	0	2.83
Minerva Surgical	0	0	0	0	0.00

NeuroPace currently has a consensus target price of $15.00, suggesting a potential upside of 24.90%. Given NeuroPace’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe NeuroPace is more favorable than Minerva Surgical.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares NeuroPace and Minerva Surgical”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
NeuroPace	$76.45 million	4.69	-$32.96 million	($1.00)	-12.01
Minerva Surgical	$51.69 million	0.00	-$34.11 million	($8.21)	N/A

NeuroPace has higher revenue and earnings than Minerva Surgical. NeuroPace is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Minerva Surgical, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

78.8% of NeuroPace shares are held by institutional investors. 22.2% of NeuroPace shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 8.5% of Minerva Surgical shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

NeuroPace beats Minerva Surgical on 8 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About NeuroPace

NeuroPace, Inc. operates as a medical device company in the United States. The company develops RNS system, a brain-responsive neuromodulation system that delivers personalized, real-time treatment at the seizure source for treating medically refractory focal epilepsy. It also records continuous brain activity data and enables clinicians to monitor patients in person and remotely. Its RNS System includes RNS neurostimulator, cortical strip and depth leads, and Patient Remote Monitor, as well as other implantable and non-implantable accessories. The company sells its products to hospital facilities for initial RNS system implant procedures and for replacement procedures. NeuroPace, Inc. was incorporated in 1997 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

About Minerva Surgical

Minerva Surgical, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes minimally invasive solutions to meet the uterine healthcare needs of women in the United States. The company provides Minerva ES Endometrial Ablation System and Genesys HTA Endometrial Ablation System, which are endometrial ablation devices; Symphion Tissue Removal System, a minimally invasive uterine tissue removal system to combine bladeless tissue resection and coagulation, continuous visualization, and intrauterine pressure monitoring; and Resectr Tissue Resection Device, a handheld surgical instrument to enable the hysteroscopic removal and diagnosis of endometrial polyps. Its devices are utilized by obstetrician-gynecologists in various medical treatment settings, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and physician offices. The company was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.