Ascend Wellness (OTCMKTS:AAWH – Get Free Report) and Synaptogenix (NASDAQ:TAOX – Get Free Report) are both small-cap healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, risk and valuation.
Risk and Volatility
Ascend Wellness has a beta of 1.22, suggesting that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Synaptogenix has a beta of 1.81, suggesting that its stock price is 81% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Ascend Wellness and Synaptogenix, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Ascend Wellness | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Synaptogenix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
Profitability
This table compares Ascend Wellness and Synaptogenix’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Ascend Wellness | -23.31% | N/A | -10.85% |
| Synaptogenix | -2,153.97% | -128.51% | -97.54% |
Institutional & Insider Ownership
17.3% of Ascend Wellness shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 10.3% of Synaptogenix shares are held by institutional investors. 21.9% of Ascend Wellness shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.7% of Synaptogenix shares are held by 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.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Ascend Wellness and Synaptogenix”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Ascend Wellness | $500.58 million | 0.14 | -$118.19 million | ($0.57) | -0.61 |
| Synaptogenix | $300,000.00 | 52.80 | -$28.74 million | ($3.85) | -0.51 |
Synaptogenix has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Ascend Wellness. Ascend Wellness is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Synaptogenix, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Summary
Ascend Wellness beats Synaptogenix on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Ascend Wellness
Ascend Wellness Holdings is a U.S. cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and sells cannabis products in regulated state markets. Its business combines cultivation and manufacturing facilities with a network of retail dispensaries. The company offers products including cannabis flower, edibles, concentrates, and vape products. Its portfolio includes brands such as Ozone and Simply Herb, alongside products from other suppliers sold through its retail stores. Founded in 2018, Ascend has developed operations across markets including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
About Synaptogenix
Synaptogenix, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapies for neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. Its research has centered primarily on bryostatin-1, a drug candidate being investigated for its potential to improve synaptic function and memory. The company has historically pursued treatments for conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and Fragile X syndrome. Its development programs have been research- and clinical-stage, with no indication that it operates a broad commercial product portfolio.
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