Head to Head Analysis: SeaStar Medical (NASDAQ:ICU) vs. Pacific Health Care Organization (OTCMKTS:PFHO)
by Mitch Edgeman · The Markets DailySeaStar Medical (NASDAQ:ICU – Get Free Report) and Pacific Health Care Organization (OTCMKTS:PFHO – Get Free Report) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.
Earnings and Valuation
This table compares SeaStar Medical and Pacific Health Care Organization”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| SeaStar Medical | $1.23 million | 13.14 | -$12.15 million | ($8.30) | -0.49 |
| Pacific Health Care Organization | $6.72 million | 2.23 | $1.39 million | $0.11 | 10.64 |
Pacific Health Care Organization has higher revenue and earnings than SeaStar Medical. SeaStar Medical is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pacific Health Care Organization, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for SeaStar Medical and Pacific Health Care Organization, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| SeaStar Medical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| Pacific Health Care Organization | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
SeaStar Medical presently has a consensus target price of $6.00, suggesting a potential upside of 47.78%. Given SeaStar Medical’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe SeaStar Medical is more favorable than Pacific Health Care Organization.
Profitability
This table compares SeaStar Medical and Pacific Health Care Organization’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| SeaStar Medical | -984.60% | -188.47% | -106.42% |
| Pacific Health Care Organization | 20.67% | 10.99% | 10.53% |
Volatility and Risk
SeaStar Medical has a beta of -1.21, indicating that its share price is 221% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Pacific Health Care Organization has a beta of 0.16, indicating that its share price is 84% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
1.7% of SeaStar Medical shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of SeaStar Medical shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 61.6% of Pacific Health Care Organization shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary
Pacific Health Care Organization beats SeaStar Medical on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.
About SeaStar Medical
SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation, a medical device company, develops a platform therapy to reduce the consequences of hyperinflammation on vital organs in the United States. The company offers inflammatory response to fend off infections and repair damaged tissue in the body. It is also developing products in various therapeutic areas, including pediatric and adult acute kidney injury on CRRT; cardiorenal syndrome in congestive heart failure; myocardial stunning in end stage renal disease; and hepatorenal syndrome. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.
About Pacific Health Care Organization
Pacific Health Care Organization, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty workers' compensation cost containment company in the United States. It is involved in managing and administering health care organizations (HCOs) and medical provider networks (MPNs). The company also provides claims-related services, including utilization review, medical case management, medical bill review, employee advocate services, workers' compensation carve-outs, expert witness testimony, and Medicare set-aside services. It serves insurers, third party administrators, self-administered employers, municipalities, and other industries. The company was formerly known as Clear Air, Inc. and changed its name to Pacific Health Care Organization, Inc. in January 2001. Pacific Health Care Organization, Inc. was incorporated in 1970 and is based in Irvine, California.