Critical Review: Metagenomi (NASDAQ:MGX) and Burning Rock Biotech (NASDAQ:BNR)
by Danessa Lincoln · The Markets DailyBurning Rock Biotech (NASDAQ:BNR – Get Free Report) and Metagenomi (NASDAQ:MGX – Get Free Report) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, profitability, valuation and dividends.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares Burning Rock Biotech and Metagenomi”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Burning Rock Biotech | $77.16 million | 1.75 | -$7.92 million | ($0.87) | -14.75 |
| Metagenomi | $25.21 million | 1.18 | -$87.87 million | ($2.49) | -0.32 |
Burning Rock Biotech has higher revenue and earnings than Metagenomi. Burning Rock Biotech is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Metagenomi, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Burning Rock Biotech and Metagenomi’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Burning Rock Biotech | -13.60% | -12.98% | -8.59% |
| Metagenomi | -384.61% | -63.65% | -44.52% |
Volatility and Risk
Burning Rock Biotech has a beta of 1.5, suggesting that its share price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Metagenomi has a beta of 0.82, suggesting that its share price is 18% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
30.0% of Burning Rock Biotech shares are held by institutional investors. 30.3% of Burning Rock Biotech shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 12.5% of Metagenomi shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Burning Rock Biotech and Metagenomi, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Burning Rock Biotech | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Metagenomi | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.33 |
Metagenomi has a consensus target price of $6.00, suggesting a potential upside of 659.49%. Given Metagenomi’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Metagenomi is more favorable than Burning Rock Biotech.
Summary
Burning Rock Biotech beats Metagenomi on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Burning Rock Biotech
Burning Rock Biotech Limited primarily develops and commercializes cancer therapy selection tests in the People's Republic of China. It operates in three segments: Central Laboratory Business, In-Hospital Business, and Pharma Research and Development Services. The company primarily offers next-generation sequencing-based tissue and liquid biopsy cancer therapy selection and prognosis prediction tests for various range of cancer types, including lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lymphomas, thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and bladder cancer using tissue and liquid biopsy samples. Its principal products include OncoCompass IO, a corresponding test for liquid biopsy samples; OncoScreen IO, a pan-cancer test for tissue samples; and OncoCompass Target, a ctDNA liquid biopsy-based test for NSCLC. In addition, the company provides ColonCore for assessing microsatellite loci related to MSI status and detecting mutations in genes associated with gastrointestinal cancers; and brPROPHET, a pre-operative ctDNA detection and post-operative MRD calling for relapsed patients. Further, it has development and commercialization agreement with Myriad Genetics, Inc. to in-license Myriad myChoice tumor testing in China; licensing agreement with Oncocyte Corporation to in-license DetermaRx, a risk stratification test for early stage lung cancer patients in China; and collaborations on clinical trials and research studies with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, CStone, BeiGene, Abbisko Therapeutics, and IMPACT Therapeutics and Merck KGaA. Additionally, the company offers OncoMaster, an automatic NGS data analysis and report interpretation machine for in-hospital model. Burning Rock Biotech Limited was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Guangzhou, China.
About Metagenomi
Metagenomi, Inc., a genetic medicines company, develops therapeutics for patients using metagenomics-derived genome editing toolbox in the United States. The company's genome editing toolbox includes programmable nucleases, base editors, and RNA and DNA-mediated integration systems, such as prime editing systems and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated transposases. It has a strategic collaboration and license agreement with ModernaTX, Inc. focusing on new genome editing system for in vivo human therapeutic applications; a development, option, and license agreement with Affini-T Therapeutics, Inc. to develop and commercialize gene edited T-cell receptor-based therapeutic products in the field of treatment, prevention, or diagnosis of human cancer; and a collaboration and license agreement with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to research, develop, and commercialize investigational medicines using genome editing technologies. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is based in Emeryville, California.