Vaxcyte (NASDAQ:PCVX) and Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BEAM) are both medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability, valuation, risk, earnings and dividends. \n\nRisk and Volatility\nVaxcyte has a beta of 1.27, meaning that its share price is 27% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Beam Therapeutics has a beta of 2.35, meaning that its share price is 135% more volatile than the S&P 500. \n\nValuation and Earnings\nThis table compares Vaxcyte and Beam Therapeutics’ top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.\n\nBeam Therapeutics has higher revenue and earnings than Vaxcyte. Vaxcyte is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Beam Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. \n\nProfitability\nThis table compares Vaxcyte and Beam Therapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.\n\nAnalyst Ratings\nThis is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Vaxcyte and Beam Therapeutics, as reported by MarketBeat.com. \n\nVaxcyte presently has a consensus target price of $136.50, indicating a potential upside of 316.16%. Beam Therapeutics has a consensus target price of $48.75, indicating a potential upside of 198.71%. Given Vaxcyte’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts clearly believe Vaxcyte is more favorable than Beam Therapeutics.\n\nInstitutional & Insider Ownership\n96.8% of Vaxcyte shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.7% of Beam Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.1% of Vaxcyte shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 4.2% of Beam Therapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.\n\nSummary\nBeam Therapeutics beats Vaxcyte on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.\n\nAbout Vaxcyte\nVaxcyte, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology vaccine company, develops novel protein vaccines to prevent or treat bacterial infectious diseases. Its lead vaccine candidate is VAX-24, a 24-valent investigational pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease. The company also develops VAX-31 to protect against emerging strains and to help address antibiotic resistance; VAX-A1, a novel conjugate vaccine candidate to prevent disease caused by Group A Streptococcus; VAX-PG, a novel protein vaccine candidate targeting keystone pathogen responsible for periodontitis; and VAX-GI to prevent Shigella, a bacterial illness. The company was formerly known as SutroVax, Inc. and changed its name to Vaxcyte, Inc. in May 2020. Vaxcyte, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in San Carlos, California.\n\nAbout Beam Therapeutics\nBeam Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in the development of precision genetic medicines for patients suffering from serious diseases in the United States. It develops BEAM-101 for the treatment of sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia; and BEAM-302, a liver-targeting LNP formulation to treat severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency; BEAM-201, an anti-CD7 CAR-T product candidate, which is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma; and BEAM-301, a liver-targeting LNP formulation for the treatment of glycogen storage disease 1a. The company has research collaboration agreement with Pfizer Inc., focus on in vivo base editing programs for targets rare genetic diseases of the liver, muscle, and central nervous system; Apellis Pharmaceuticals to conduct preclinical research on target specific genes within the complement system in various organs, including the eye, liver, and brain; Verve Therapeutics, Inc., for cardiovascular disease treatments; Sana Biotechnology, Inc., to research, develop, and commercialize rights to CRISPR Cas12b for cell therapy programs; and Orbital Therapeutics design RNA for the prevention, treatment or diagnosis of human disease. Beam Therapeutics Inc. was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Head to Head Contrast: Vaxcyte (NASDAQ:PCVX) and Beam Therapeutics (NASDAQ:BEAM)

The article compares Vaxcyte and Beam Therapeutics, two biotechnology companies, based on financial metrics, ownership, and product pipelines. Vaxcyte has a lower price-to-earnings ratio and 96.8% institutional ownership, while Beam Therapeutics has higher revenue and earnings but a higher beta. Both companies are clinical-stage biotech firms with distinct therapeutic candidates.