Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ:DTIL) versus Upstream Bio (NASDAQ:UPB) Head-To-Head Contrast
by Danessa Lincoln · The Markets DailyUpstream Bio (NASDAQ:UPB – Get Free Report) and Precision BioSciences (NASDAQ:DTIL – Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, dividends and earnings.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for Upstream Bio and Precision BioSciences, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Upstream Bio | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2.50 |
| Precision BioSciences | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.33 |
Upstream Bio presently has a consensus price target of $43.33, indicating a potential upside of 47.79%. Precision BioSciences has a consensus price target of $47.00, indicating a potential upside of 875.10%. Given Precision BioSciences’ higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Precision BioSciences is more favorable than Upstream Bio.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Upstream Bio and Precision BioSciences”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Upstream Bio | $2.37 million | 668.55 | -$62.81 million | ($1.88) | -15.60 |
| Precision BioSciences | $68.70 million | 0.93 | $7.17 million | ($8.40) | -0.57 |
Precision BioSciences has higher revenue and earnings than Upstream Bio. Upstream Bio is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Precision BioSciences, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Upstream Bio and Precision BioSciences’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Upstream Bio | -4,366.77% | -28.71% | -27.94% |
| Precision BioSciences | -11,977.36% | -233.77% | -78.93% |
Insider & Institutional Ownership
38.0% of Precision BioSciences shares are owned by institutional investors. 13.6% of Upstream Bio shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 4.0% of Precision BioSciences shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Risk and Volatility
Upstream Bio has a beta of 1.83, suggesting that its stock price is 83% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Precision BioSciences has a beta of 1.11, suggesting that its stock price is 11% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Upstream Bio beats Precision BioSciences on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Upstream Bio
Upstream Bio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops treatments for inflammatory diseases that focuses on severe respiratory disorders. It develops verekitug, a monoclonal antibody that targets and inhibits the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor. The company also develops therapies to treat severe asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Upstream Bio, Inc. was incorporated in 2021 and is based in Waltham, Massachusetts.
About Precision BioSciences
Precision BioSciences, Inc., an advanced gene editing company, develops in vivo gene editing therapies for gene edits, including gene elimination, insertion, and excision in the United States. The company offers ARCUS, a genome editing platform to DNA genome insertion, deletion, and repair. It also provides PBGENE-HBV for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) to eliminate covalently closed circular DNA with direct cuts and edits as well as to inactivate integrated HBV DNA with the goal of long-lasting reductions in hepatitis B surface antigen; PBGENE-PMM for the treatment of m.3243 associated primary mitochondrial myopathy (PMM) which is expected to submit an IND and/or CTA. In addition, it develops PBGENE-NVS for sickle cell disease/beta thalassemia for insertion; PBGENE-DMD (excision) for duchenne muscular dystrophy; PBGENE-LL2 (insertion), a liver directed target; PBGENE-LL3, a central nervous system directed target; and iECURE-OTC (insertion) for ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. The company has license and collaboration agreement with Caribou Biosciences, Inc.; license agreement with TG Cell Therapy, Inc. to develop, manufacture, and commercialize azer-cel for autoimmune diseases and other indications outside of cancer; development and license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company for the research and development of potential in vivo therapies for genetic disorders; Cellectis S.A.; iECURE, Inc. to develop ARCUS-based gene-insertion therapies; Duke University; and Novartis Pharma AG to discover and develop in vivo gene editing products. Precision BioSciences, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina.