Critical Survey: Ocular Therapeutix (NASDAQ:OCUL) vs. Alkermes (NASDAQ:ALKS)

Alkermes (NASDAQ:ALKS) and Ocular Therapeutix (NASDAQ:OCUL) are both medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Profitability

This table compares Alkermes and Ocular Therapeutix’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Alkermes	22.15%	24.92%	14.55%
Ocular Therapeutix	-283.74%	-45.18%	-30.87%

Volatility and Risk

Alkermes has a beta of 0.47, suggesting that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ocular Therapeutix has a beta of 1.26, suggesting that its stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Alkermes and Ocular Therapeutix”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Alkermes	$1.51 billion	3.14	$355.76 million	$1.95	15.00
Ocular Therapeutix	$61.44 million	24.95	-$80.74 million	($1.32)	-7.39

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

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Alkermes and Ocular Therapeutix, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Alkermes	1	3	8	0	2.58
Ocular Therapeutix	0	1	6	0	2.86

Alkermes currently has a consensus target price of $35.42, indicating a potential upside of 21.08%. Ocular Therapeutix has a consensus target price of $16.71, indicating a potential upside of 71.43%. Given Ocular Therapeutix’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Ocular Therapeutix is more favorable than Alkermes.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

95.2% of Alkermes shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 59.2% of Ocular Therapeutix shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.9% of Alkermes shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.5% of Ocular Therapeutix shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Alkermes beats Ocular Therapeutix on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Alkermes

Alkermes plc, a biopharmaceutical company, researches, develops, and commercializes pharmaceutical products to address unmet medical needs of patients in therapeutic areas in the United States, Ireland, and internationally. It has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical product candidates in development for neurological disorders. Its marketed products include ARISTADA, an intramuscular injectable suspension for the treatment of schizophrenia; ARISTADA INITIO for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults; VIVITROL for the treatment of alcohol and prevention of opioid dependence; and LYBALVI, an oral atypical antipsychotic drug candidate for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. It has collaboration agreements primarily with Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Janssen Pharmaceutica Inc, and Janssen Pharmaceutica International. The company also offers proprietary technology platforms to third parties to enable them to develop, commercialize, and manufacture products. Alkermes plc was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

About Ocular Therapeutix

Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the formulation, development, and commercialization of therapies for diseases and conditions of the eye using its bioresorbable hydrogel-based formulation technology in the United States. The company markets DEXTENZA, a dexamethasone ophthalmic insert to treat post-surgical ocular inflammation and pain following ophthalmic surgery, as well as allergic conjunctivitis. It is developing AXPAXLI, an axitinib intravitreal implant that is in phase 3 trials for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases; PAXTRAVA, a travoprost intracameral implant, which is in phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension; OTX-CSI, a cyclosporine intracanalicular insert that has completed phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of dry eye disease; and OTX-DED, a dexamethasone intracanalicular insert, which is in phase 2 clinical trials for the short-term treatment of the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. In addition, the company offers modulator for intermediate and late dry age-related macular degeneration; and gene delivery for inherited retinal degenerations and protein biofactory indications. The company has a strategic collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Regeneron) for the development and commercialization of products using the company’s sustained-release hydrogel in combination with Regeneron’s large molecule VEGF-targeting compounds for the treatment of retinal diseases; and AffaMed Therapeutics Limited for the development and commercialization of DEXTENZA and OTX-TIC. Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts.