Co-Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CODX) versus NeuroPace (NASDAQ:NPCE) Head to Head Comparison

Co-Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CODX – Get Rating) and NeuroPace (NASDAQ:NPCE – Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Co-Diagnostics and NeuroPace’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Co-Diagnostics	37.45%	36.83%	33.38%
NeuroPace	-79.85%	-141.26%	-26.16%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Co-Diagnostics and NeuroPace’s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Co-Diagnostics	$97.89 million	1.40	$36.66 million	$1.22	3.30
NeuroPace	$45.18 million	3.59	-$36.08 million	($33.99)	-0.20

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

Insider and Institutional Ownership

21.0% of Co-Diagnostics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.6% of NeuroPace shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.0% of Co-Diagnostics shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Co-Diagnostics and NeuroPace, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Co-Diagnostics	0	1	3	0	2.75
NeuroPace	1	1	4	0	2.50

Co-Diagnostics currently has a consensus target price of $14.50, suggesting a potential upside of 255.39%. NeuroPace has a consensus target price of $16.50, suggesting a potential upside of 148.87%. Given Co-Diagnostics’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Co-Diagnostics is more favorable than NeuroPace.

Summary

Co-Diagnostics beats NeuroPace on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

Co-Diagnostics Company Profile (Get Rating)

Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company, develops, manufactures, and sells reagents used for diagnostic tests that function through the detection and/or analysis of nucleic acid molecules in the United States and internationally. It offers polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests for COVID-19, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, human papilloma virus, malaria, chikungunya, dengue, and the zika virus; three multiplexed tests to test mosquitos for the identification of diseases carried by the mosquitos; and molecular tools for detection of infectious diseases, liquid biopsy for cancer screening, and agricultural applications. The company also provides tests that identify genetic traits in plant and animal genomes; and portable PCR device designed to bring PCR to patients in point-of-care and at-home settings. In addition, it intends to sell diagnostic equipment from other manufacturers as self-contained lab systems. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

NeuroPace Company Profile (Get Rating)

NeuroPace, Inc. operates as a medical device company in the United States. The company develops and sells RNS system, a brain-responsive neuromodulation system for treating medically refractory focal epilepsy by delivering personalized real-time treatment at the seizure source. Its RNS system also records continuous brain activity data and enables clinicians to monitor patients in person and remotely. 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.