AtriCure (NASDAQ:ATRC) versus SeaStar Medical (NASDAQ:ICU) Critical Contrast

AtriCure (NASDAQ:ATRC) and SeaStar Medical (NASDAQ:ICU) 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, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability and earnings.

Volatility & Risk

AtriCure has a beta of 1.42, indicating that its share price is 42% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SeaStar Medical has a beta of -1.05, indicating that its share price is 205% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

99.1% of AtriCure shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 1.7% of SeaStar Medical shares are held by institutional investors. 3.2% of AtriCure shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.1% of SeaStar Medical shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares AtriCure and SeaStar Medical’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
AtriCure	-8.70%	-8.12%	-6.21%
SeaStar Medical	N/A	N/A	-627.49%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for AtriCure and SeaStar Medical, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
AtriCure	0	0	8	0	3.00
SeaStar Medical	0	0	0	0	0.00

AtriCure presently has a consensus target price of $42.00, suggesting a potential upside of 31.13%. Given AtriCure’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe AtriCure is more favorable than SeaStar Medical.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares AtriCure and SeaStar Medical”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
AtriCure	$447.57 million	3.49	-$30.44 million	($0.83)	-38.59
SeaStar Medical	$68,000.00	137.83	-$26.23 million	($11.63)	-0.18

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

Summary

AtriCure beats SeaStar Medical on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About AtriCure

AtriCure, Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells devices for surgical ablation of cardiac tissue, exclusion of the left atrial appendage, and temporarily blocking pain by ablating peripheral nerves to medical centers in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company offers Isolator Synergy Clamps, single-use disposable radio frequency products; multifunctional pens and linear ablation devices, such as the MAX Pen device that enables surgeons to evaluate cardiac arrhythmias, perform temporary cardiac pacing, sensing, and stimulation, and ablate cardiac tissue with the same device; and the Coolrail device, which enables users to make longer linear lines of ablation. It also provides cryoICE Cryoablation System that enables the user to make linear ablations of varied lengths; EPi-Sense Systems, a single-use disposable device used for the treatment of symptomatic, drug-refractory, and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation; cryoSPHERE probe, which provides temporary pain relief by applying cryothermic energy to targeted intercoastal peripheral nerves in the ribcage; AtriClip System, an implantable device coupled to a single-use disposable applier; and LARIAT System, a suture-based solution for soft-tissue closure. In addition, the company sells Lumitip dissectors to separate tissues to provide access to key anatomical structures that are targeted for ablation; Glidepath guides for placement of clamps; Subtle Cannula's to support access for EPi-Sense catheters; and various reusable cardiac surgery instruments. It markets and sells its products through independent distributors and direct sales personnel. The company was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Mason, Ohio.

About SeaStar Medical

SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation, a medical device company, develops a platform therapy to reduce the consequences of hyperinflammation on vital organs in the United States. The company offers inflammatory response to fend off infections and repair damaged tissue in the body. It is also developing products in various therapeutic areas, including pediatric and adult acute kidney injury on CRRT; cardiorenal syndrome in congestive heart failure; myocardial stunning in end stage renal disease; and hepatorenal syndrome. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.