The Spectranetics Corporation (NASDAQ: SPNC) and Cutera (NASDAQ:CUTR) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitabiliy, analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, valuation, earnings and institutional ownership.
Insider and Institutional Ownership
92.3% of The Spectranetics Corporation shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.4% of Cutera shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.7% of The Spectranetics Corporation shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 3.3% of Cutera shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.
Profitability
This table compares The Spectranetics Corporation and Cutera’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| The Spectranetics Corporation | -21.38% | -63.11% | -11.32% |
| Cutera | 2.89% | 9.21% | 6.05% |
Volatility and Risk
The Spectranetics Corporation has a beta of 1.54, suggesting that its share price is 54% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cutera has a beta of 0.6, suggesting that its share price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Earnings & Valuation
This table compares The Spectranetics Corporation and Cutera’s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | EBITDA | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| The Spectranetics Corporation | $277.62 million | 6.02 | -$16.31 million | ($1.38) | -27.86 |
| Cutera | $124.93 million | 2.98 | $4.14 million | $0.26 | 103.46 |
Cutera has higher revenue, but lower earnings than The Spectranetics Corporation. The Spectranetics Corporation is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cutera, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for The Spectranetics Corporation and Cutera, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| The Spectranetics Corporation | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2.43 |
| Cutera | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3.00 |
The Spectranetics Corporation currently has a consensus price target of $33.42, indicating a potential downside of 13.09%. Cutera has a consensus price target of $32.33, indicating a potential upside of 20.20%. Given Cutera’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Cutera is more favorable than The Spectranetics Corporation.
Summary
Cutera beats The Spectranetics Corporation on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About The Spectranetics Corporation
The Spectranetics Corporation develops, manufactures, markets and distributes single-use medical devices used in minimally invasive procedures within the cardiovascular system. The Company’s products are used to cross, prepare and treat arterial blockages in the heart and legs and to manage pacemaker and defibrillator cardiac leads. Its geographic segments are U.S. Medical and International Medical. Its product offerings in U.S. Medical segment include medical devices used in minimally invasive procedures within the cardiovascular system, including fiber-optic devices and non-fiber-optic products (disposables), an excimer laser system (equipment) and the service of the excimer laser system (service). Its products are used in multiple vascular procedures, including peripheral atherectomy, crossing arterial blockages, coronary atherectomy and thrombectomy. Its International Medical segment is primarily engaged in distribution activities.
About Cutera
Cutera, Inc. is a medical device company. The Company is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, marketing and servicing of laser and other energy-based aesthetics systems for practitioners across the world. The Company offers products based on product platforms, such as enlighten, excel HR, truSculpt, excel V and xeo, each of which enables physicians and other practitioners to perform aesthetic procedures for customers. Each of its laser and other energy-based platforms consists of one or more hand pieces and a console that incorporates a universal graphical user interface, a laser or other energy-based module, control system software and high voltage electronics. The Company also offers products, such as CoolGlide that includes CV, Excel and Vantage; Solera that includes Titan S, ProWave 770, OPS 600, LP560, AcuTip 500, Titan V/XL and LimeLight, and a third-party sourced system, myQ for the Japanese market.
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