Head-To-Head Comparison: Xeris Biopharma (NASDAQ:XERS) & 4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT)

4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT) and Xeris Biopharma (NASDAQ:XERS) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, dividends and earnings.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Xeris Biopharma”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
4D Molecular Therapeutics	$40,000.00	11,554.54	-$160.87 million	($3.75)	-2.16
Xeris Biopharma	$203.07 million	6.22	-$54.84 million	($0.10)	-76.10

Xeris Biopharma has higher revenue and earnings than 4D Molecular Therapeutics. Xeris Biopharma is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than 4D Molecular Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Xeris Biopharma’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
4D Molecular Therapeutics	-174,314.17%	-47.27%	-42.39%
Xeris Biopharma	-5.88%	N/A	-4.66%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

99.3% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 42.8% of Xeris Biopharma shares are owned by institutional investors. 9.6% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.5% of Xeris Biopharma shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Xeris Biopharma, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
4D Molecular Therapeutics	1	1	8	0	2.70
Xeris Biopharma	1	2	6	0	2.56

4D Molecular Therapeutics presently has a consensus target price of $33.25, indicating a potential upside of 311.00%. Xeris Biopharma has a consensus target price of $9.50, indicating a potential upside of 24.84%. Given 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe 4D Molecular Therapeutics is more favorable than Xeris Biopharma.

Volatility & Risk

4D Molecular Therapeutics has a beta of 2.99, meaning that its stock price is 199% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Xeris Biopharma has a beta of 0.5, meaning that its stock price is 50% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

4D Molecular Therapeutics beats Xeris Biopharma on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About 4D Molecular Therapeutics

4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, develops genetic medicines using its therapeutic vector evolution platform in the Netherland and the United States. The company develops a portfolio of genetic medicine product candidates focuses in three therapeutic areas for ophthalmology, cardiology, and pulmonology. Its product pipeline includes 4D-150, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration; and is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The company develops 4D-125, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of x-linked retinitis pigmentosa; 4D-110, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of choroideremia; 4D-710, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment cystic fibrosis lung disease; and 4D-310 to treat fabry disease cardiomyopathy and is in phase 1/2 clinical trial. In addition, its product candidates comprises 4D-175, which is in pre-clinical development for the treatment for geographic trophy; and 4D-725 to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency lung disease and is in pre-clinical development. The company has collaboration and licensing agreements with Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc.; Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc; uniQure biopharma B.V.; and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California.

About Xeris Biopharma

Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, engages in developing and commercializing therapies in Illinois. The company offers Gvoke, a ready-to-use liquid-stable glucagon for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia pediatric and adult patients; Keveyis, a therapy for the treatment of hyperkalemic, hypokalemic, and related variants of primary periodic paralysis; and Recorlev, a cortisol synthesis inhibitor proved for the treatment of endogenous hypercortisolemia in adult patients with Cushing's syndrome. It is also developing XP-8121, a once-weekly subcutaneous injection of levothyroxine that is in phase I clinical trial for the treatment of hypothyroidism; and non-aqueous XeriSol and XeriJect technologies for various therapies. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.