Reviewing Immunocore (NASDAQ:IMCR) and ProQR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PRQR)

Immunocore (NASDAQ:IMCR) and ProQR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PRQR) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Immunocore and ProQR Therapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Immunocore	-5.70%	-5.40%	-1.93%
ProQR Therapeutics	-238.52%	-61.25%	-28.13%

Volatility & Risk

Immunocore has a beta of 0.77, indicating that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ProQR Therapeutics has a beta of 0.43, indicating that its stock price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

84.5% of Immunocore shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of ProQR Therapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. 10.4% of Immunocore shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 8.4% of ProQR Therapeutics shares are held by 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.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Immunocore and ProQR Therapeutics”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Immunocore	$310.20 million	5.28	-$51.09 million	($0.40)	-81.23
ProQR Therapeutics	$20.46 million	11.00	-$30.04 million	($0.46)	-4.65

ProQR Therapeutics has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Immunocore. Immunocore is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than ProQR Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Immunocore and ProQR Therapeutics, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Immunocore	1	3	6	0	2.50
ProQR Therapeutics	0	0	7	1	3.13

Immunocore presently has a consensus target price of $58.00, indicating a potential upside of 78.52%. ProQR Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $8.00, indicating a potential upside of 273.83%. Given ProQR Therapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ProQR Therapeutics is more favorable than Immunocore.

Summary

Immunocore beats ProQR Therapeutics on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Immunocore

Immunocore Holdings plc, a commercial-stage biotechnology company, engages in the development of immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, infectious, and autoimmune diseases. The company offers KIMMTRAK for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. It also develops other programs for oncology, including tebentafusp that is in Phase 2/3 clinical trial to treat advanced cutaneous melanoma. In addition, the company’s product pipeline comprises IMC-F106C, which is in a Phase 3 clinical trial to treat first line advanced cutaneous melanoma; and in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in multiple tumor types, such as platinum resistant ovarian, non-small cell lung, and endometrial carcinoma. Further, it develops IMC-R117C, which is in phase 1 clinical trial to treat colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers; IMC-M113V, which is in phase 1 clinical trial to treat human immunosuppression virus; IMC-I109V, which is in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus; IMC-T119C, which is in preclinical trial for multiple solid tumor cancers; IMC-P115C, which is in preclinical trial to treat multiple solid tumor cancers; and IMC-S118AI to treat type 1 diabetes and is in preclinical trial. Immunocore Holdings plc was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Abingdon, the United Kingdom.

About ProQR Therapeutics

ProQR Therapeutics N.V., a biotechnology company, focuses on the discovery and development of novel therapeutic medicines. The company's products pipeline includes AX-0810 for cholestatic diseases targeting Na-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP); and AX-1412 for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) targeting Beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 1 (B4GALT1). It also develops various other early-stage research programs, including AX-1005 for undisclosed targets in CVDs; AX-2402, which focuses on Rett syndrome; AX-2911 for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); AX-0601 for obesity and Type 2 diabetes; and AX-9115 for rare metabolic condition, as well as various other targets. In addition, the company develops Axiomer RNA base-editing platform technology. It has a license agreement with Radboud University Medical Center; Inserm Transfert SA; Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Vico Therapeutics B.V.; University of Rochester; and Leiden University Medical Center, as well as license and research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company for the discovery, development, and commercialization of potential new medicines for genetic disorders in the liver and nervous system. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands.