Critical Analysis: Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX) & LadRx (OTCMKTS:CYTR)

Protalix BioTherapeutics (NYSE:PLX) and LadRx (OTCMKTS:CYTR) 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, profitability, valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends.

Volatility and Risk

Protalix BioTherapeutics has a beta of -0.23, indicating that its stock price is 123% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LadRx has a beta of 1.96, indicating that its stock price is 96% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and LadRx’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Protalix BioTherapeutics	-21.03%	-30.89%	-11.74%
LadRx	N/A	-67.61%	-45.39%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

16.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of LadRx shares are held by institutional investors. 6.5% of Protalix BioTherapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 12.8% of LadRx shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Protalix BioTherapeutics and LadRx”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Protalix BioTherapeutics	$61.95 million	2.05	$8.31 million	$0.07	22.71
LadRx	N/A	N/A	-$6.70 million	($0.15)	N/A

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

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Protalix BioTherapeutics and LadRx, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Protalix BioTherapeutics	0	0	1	0	3.00
LadRx	0	0	0	0	0.00

Protalix BioTherapeutics presently has a consensus price target of $15.00, indicating a potential upside of 843.40%. Given Protalix BioTherapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Protalix BioTherapeutics is more favorable than LadRx.

Summary

Protalix BioTherapeutics beats LadRx on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Protalix BioTherapeutics

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the development, production, and commercialization of recombinant therapeutic proteins based on its proprietary ProCellEx plant cell-based protein expression system in the United States, Australia, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, and internationally. The company offers Elelyso for the treatment of Gaucher disease; and Elfabrio for the treatment of adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Fabry disease. It is also developing PRX-115, a plant cell-expressed recombinant PEGylated Uricase which is in Phase I trial for the treatment of gout; and PRX-119, a plant cell-expressed PEGylated recombinant human DNase I product candidate that is in preclinical phase for the treatment of NETs-related diseases. The company has agreements and partnerships with Pfizer; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Karmiel, Israel. Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Protalix Ltd.

About LadRx

LadRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the discovery and development of therapeutics to treat patients with cancer. The company's advanced drug conjugate, aldoxorubicin that is in late-stage clinical trials is a version of anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. Its pre-clinical therapeutics comprise linker activated drug releases 7, 8, 9, and 10 targeted against cancer The company was formerly known as CytRx Corporation and changed its name to LadRx Corporation in September 2022. LadRx Corporation was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.