Critical Analysis: Cartesian Therapeutics (RNAC) versus The Competition

Cartesian Therapeutics (NASDAQ:RNAC) is one of 1,060 public companies in the “Pharmaceutical preparations” industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Cartesian Therapeutics to similar businesses based on the strength of its valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, risk and earnings.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

86.9% of Cartesian Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 44.1% of shares of all “Pharmaceutical preparations” companies are owned by institutional investors. 57.9% of Cartesian Therapeutics shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 13.7% of shares of all “Pharmaceutical preparations” companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Cartesian Therapeutics has a beta of 0.6, indicating that its share price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cartesian Therapeutics’ rivals have a beta of 3.71, indicating that their average share price is 271% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Cartesian Therapeutics and its rivals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Cartesian Therapeutics	-510.72%	N/A	-6.03%
Cartesian Therapeutics Competitors	-3,590.11%	-276.96%	-39.10%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Cartesian Therapeutics and its rivals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Cartesian Therapeutics	0	2	8	0	2.80
Cartesian Therapeutics Competitors	7782	21206	48908	1233	2.55

Cartesian Therapeutics presently has a consensus target price of $42.86, indicating a potential upside of 121.48%. As a group, “Pharmaceutical preparations” companies have a potential upside of 185.59%. Given Cartesian Therapeutics’ rivals higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Cartesian Therapeutics has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Cartesian Therapeutics and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Net Income	Price/Earnings Ratio
Cartesian Therapeutics	$47.94 million	-$219.71 million	-0.37
Cartesian Therapeutics Competitors	$9.59 billion	$147.39 million	-5.45

Cartesian Therapeutics’ rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Cartesian Therapeutics. Cartesian Therapeutics is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Cartesian Therapeutics beats its rivals on 8 of the 13 factors compared.

Cartesian Therapeutics Company Profile

Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, engages in the provision of mRNA cell therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. It develops Descartes-08, an autologous anti-BCMA RNA-engineered chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, currently under Phase 2b clinical development for generalized myasthenia gravis, as well as for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and myeloma autoimmune basket trials for other autoimmune diseases. The company develops Descartes-15 to treat Autoimmune diseases, myeloma; and Descartes-33 which is in preclinical development for treatment of autoimmune diseases. Cartesian Therapeutics, Inc. is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland.