Analyzing AEON Biopharma (NASDAQ:AEON) & Argos Therapeutics (OTCMKTS:ARGSQ)

Argos Therapeutics (OTCMKTS:ARGSQ) and AEON Biopharma (NASDAQ:AEON) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Volatility and Risk

Argos Therapeutics has a beta of 2.47, meaning that its share price is 147% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, AEON Biopharma has a beta of 0.61, meaning that its share price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Argos Therapeutics and AEON Biopharma’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Argos Therapeutics	N/A	N/A	N/A
AEON Biopharma	N/A	N/A	-994.63%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Argos Therapeutics and AEON Biopharma”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Argos Therapeutics	$1.90 million	0.30	-$40.57 million	N/A	N/A
AEON Biopharma	N/A	N/A	-$36.63 million	($5.00)	-0.06

AEON Biopharma has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Argos Therapeutics.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Argos Therapeutics and AEON Biopharma, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Argos Therapeutics	0	0	0	0	0.00
AEON Biopharma	0	1	1	1	3.00

Institutional and Insider Ownership

22.8% of AEON Biopharma shares are owned by institutional investors. 28.2% of Argos Therapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.4% of AEON Biopharma shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

AEON Biopharma beats Argos Therapeutics on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Argos Therapeutics

Argos Therapeutics, Inc., an immuno-oncology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of individualized immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases in North America. The company develops immunotherapies based on its proprietary technology platform, Arcelis. Its product candidates include rocapuldencel-T, which is in Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The company also develops AGS-004, which is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus. The company was formerly known as Merix Bioscience, Inc. and changed its name to Argos Therapeutics, Inc. in October 2004. Argos Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in Durham, North Carolina. On November 30, 2018, Argos Therapeutics, Inc. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

About AEON Biopharma

AEON Biopharma, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on developing botulinum toxins. It develops ABP-450 (prabotulinumtoxinA) injection for debilitating medical conditions, which completed Phase 2 study for the treatment of cervical dystonia and has an ongoing Phase 2 study for the treatment of both chronic and episodic migraine, as well as develops ABP-450 for the treatment of gastroparesis and posttraumatic stress disorder. The company is based in Irvine, California.