Merus Labs International (NASDAQ: MSLI) and Depomed (NASDAQ:DEPO) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, earnings, profitabiliy and analyst recommendations.
Profitability
This table compares Merus Labs International and Depomed’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Merus Labs International | -5.18% | -2.51% | -1.32% |
| Depomed | -21.41% | -25.33% | -5.52% |
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Merus Labs International and Depomed’s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | EBITDA | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Merus Labs International | N/A | N/A | N/A | ($0.08) | -16.25 |
| Depomed | $441.56 million | 1.46 | $125.09 million | ($1.53) | -6.74 |
Depomed has higher revenue and earnings than Merus Labs International. Merus Labs International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Depomed, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Merus Labs International and Depomed, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Merus Labs International | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Depomed | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2.50 |
Merus Labs International currently has a consensus price target of $1.35, suggesting a potential upside of 3.85%. Depomed has a consensus price target of $17.00, suggesting a potential upside of 64.89%. Given Depomed’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Depomed is more favorable than Merus Labs International.
Volatility and Risk
Merus Labs International has a beta of 1.56, meaning that its stock price is 56% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Depomed has a beta of 1.15, meaning that its stock price is 15% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
19.7% of Merus Labs International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 91.5% of Depomed shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.6% of Depomed shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Summary
Depomed beats Merus Labs International on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.
Merus Labs International Company Profile
Merus Labs International Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in the acquisition and licensing of branded prescription pharmaceutical products. The Company’s products include Elantan, Isoket, Deponit, Sintrom, Emselex/Enablex, Surgestone, Provames, Speciafoldine, Tredemine, Salagen, Estraderm MX and Vancocin. Elantan are tablets or capsules that belong to a group of medicines called organic nitrates. Isoket belongs to a group of medicines called organic nitrates. Deponit belongs to a group of medicines called nitrates. Sintrom is an anticoagulant indicated to treat and prevent thromboembolic diseases. Emselex/Enablex is used in adults to treat overactive bladder syndrome. Surgestone is used to treat women with menstrual irregularities due to ovulation disorder, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome. Provames is used as hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women with symptoms of estrogen deficiency.
Depomed Company Profile
Depomed, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company. The Company focuses on pain and other central nervous system (CNS) conditions. Its products include NUCYNTA ER (tapentadol extended release tablets), NUCYNTA IR (NUCYNTA) (tapentadol), Gralise (gabapentin), CAMBIA (diclofenac potassium for oral solution), Zipsor (diclofenac potassium) and Lazanda (fentanyl). Its NUCYNTA ER (tapentadol extended release tablets) is a product for the management of pain severe enough to require daily long term opioid treatment, including neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in adults, and its NUCYNTA (tapentadol) is a product for the management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Its Gralise (gabapentin) is a once-daily product for the management of postherpetic neuralgia. Its CAMBIA (diclofenac potassium for oral solution) is a product for the acute treatment of migraine attacks.
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