ProQR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PRQR) vs. BetterLife Pharma (OTCMKTS:BETRF) Financial Analysis

BetterLife Pharma (OTCMKTS:BETRF) and ProQR Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PRQR) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, analyst recommendations, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership and profitability.

Profitability

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

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
BetterLife Pharma	N/A	N/A	-998.84%
ProQR Therapeutics	-134.31%	-71.58%	-19.70%

Volatility and Risk

BetterLife Pharma has a beta of 1.34, meaning that its stock price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, ProQR Therapeutics has a beta of 0.24, meaning that its stock price is 76% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares BetterLife Pharma and ProQR Therapeutics”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
BetterLife Pharma	N/A	N/A	-$2.14 million	($0.03)	-2.51
ProQR Therapeutics	$17.88 million	12.01	-$30.43 million	($0.32)	-8.22

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

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings for BetterLife Pharma and ProQR Therapeutics, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
BetterLife Pharma	0	0	0	0	0.00
ProQR Therapeutics	0	0	4	1	3.20

ProQR Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $7.60, indicating a potential upside of 188.97%. Given ProQR Therapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe ProQR Therapeutics is more favorable than BetterLife Pharma.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.0% of BetterLife Pharma shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of ProQR Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 34.8% of BetterLife Pharma shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 8.4% of ProQR Therapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

About BetterLife Pharma

BetterLife Pharma Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the development and commercialization of compounds for the treatment of mental disorders in Canada. It is also involved in refining and developing drug candidates from a set of complementary interferon-based technologies that have the potential to engage the immune system to fight virus infections. The company's products pipeline includes BETR-001 for the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety, and neuropathic pain and other neuro-psychiatric and neurological disorders; and BETR-002 to treat benzodiazepine dependency, anxiety, and neurodegenerative disorders. It is also developing MM-003, which has completed Phase II clinical trials for treatment of COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections; and MM-001, a topical cream for local intravaginal use to treat HPV-induced cervical intraepithelial neoplasia that has completed Phase II clinical trials. The company was formerly known as Pivot Pharmaceuticals Inc. and changed its name to BetterLife Pharma Inc. in December 2019. BetterLife Pharma Inc. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

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.