Head-To-Head Comparison: Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) and Viridian Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VRDN)

Viridian Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VRDN) and Emergent Biosolutions (NYSE:EBS) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends and risk.

Volatility and Risk

Viridian Therapeutics has a beta of 0.97, suggesting that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Emergent Biosolutions has a beta of 2.34, suggesting that its share price is 134% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Viridian Therapeutics and Emergent Biosolutions”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Viridian Therapeutics	$70.85 million	31.98	-$342.60 million	($3.37)	-5.93
Emergent Biosolutions	$742.90 million	0.48	$52.60 million	($3.55)	-1.95

Emergent Biosolutions has higher revenue and earnings than Viridian Therapeutics. Viridian Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Emergent Biosolutions, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

78.4% of Emergent Biosolutions shares are held by institutional investors. 2.4% of Viridian Therapeutics shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 6.0% of Emergent Biosolutions shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Viridian Therapeutics and Emergent Biosolutions’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Viridian Therapeutics	-505.86%	-72.97%	-42.80%
Emergent Biosolutions	-22.95%	16.35%	6.17%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Viridian Therapeutics and Emergent Biosolutions, as reported by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Viridian Therapeutics	1	0	12	0	2.85
Emergent Biosolutions	2	1	3	0	2.17

Viridian Therapeutics currently has a consensus price target of $38.69, indicating a potential upside of 93.46%. Emergent Biosolutions has a consensus price target of $10.00, indicating a potential upside of 44.20%. Given Viridian Therapeutics’ stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Viridian Therapeutics is more favorable than Emergent Biosolutions.

Summary

Emergent Biosolutions beats Viridian Therapeutics on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Viridian Therapeutics

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, discover and develops treatments for serious and rare diseases. The company's product pipeline includes VRDN-001, a monoclonal antibody targeting insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor that is in Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED); and VRDN-003, a next generation IGF-1R humanized monoclonal antibodies targeting IGF-1R and incorporating half-life extension technology for the treatment of TED. It also provides VRDN-006 a preclinical program for autoimmune disease. In addition, the company offers VRDN-006 and VRDN-008 a preclinical program for autoimmune disease. The company was formerly known as Miragen Therapeutics, Inc. and changed its name to Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. in January 2021.Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

About Emergent Biosolutions

Emergent BioSolutions Inc., a life sciences company, provides preparedness and response solutions for accidental, deliberate, and naturally occurring public health threats in the United States. The company offers NARCAN Nasal Spray for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose; Vaxchora vaccine for the prevention of cholera; Vivotif vaccine for oral administration for the prevention of typhoid fever; Anthrasil for the treatment of inhalational anthrax; BioThrax, an anthrax vaccine; CYFENDUS for post-exposure prophylaxis of disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis; and Raxibacumab injection for the treatment and prophylaxis of inhalational anthrax. It also provides ACAM2000, a smallpox vaccine; CNJ-016 to address complications from smallpox vaccination; TEMBEXA for the treatment of smallpox disease caused by variola virus in adult and pediatric patients; BAT for the treatment of symptomatic botulism; Ebanga for the treatment of Ebola; Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion Kit to remove or neutralize chemical warfare agents from the skin; Trobigard, a atropine sulfate obidoxime chloride auto-injector. In addition, the company is developing CGRD-001 for the treatment of poisoning by organophosphorus nerve agents or organophosphorus compounds; EBS-LASV to prevent Lassa fever; EBS-MARV to prevent Marburg virus disease; EBS-SUDV to prevent Sudan virus disease; Pan-Ebola mAbs for the treatment of ebola virus; SIAN Antidote for initial treatment of certain or suspected acute cyanide poisoning; UniFlu for immunity against influenza A and B viruses; and WEVEE-VLP for equine encephalitis virus infections. Further, it provides contract development and manufacturing services comprising drug substance and product manufacturing, and packaging, as well as technology transfer, process, and analytical development services. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland.