RespireRx Pharmaceuticals (OTCMKTS:RSPI) vs. Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PHIO) Critical Contrast

Phio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PHIO) and RespireRx Pharmaceuticals (OTCMKTS:RSPI) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership and dividends.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Phio Pharmaceuticals and RespireRx Pharmaceuticals, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Phio Pharmaceuticals	0	0	1	0	3.00
RespireRx Pharmaceuticals	0	0	0	0	0.00

Phio Pharmaceuticals currently has a consensus price target of $4.00, suggesting a potential upside of 81.82%. Given Phio Pharmaceuticals’ stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Phio Pharmaceuticals is more favorable than RespireRx Pharmaceuticals.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Phio Pharmaceuticals and RespireRx Pharmaceuticals”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Phio Pharmaceuticals	N/A	N/A	-$10.83 million	($10.92)	-0.20
RespireRx Pharmaceuticals	N/A	N/A	-$2.10 million	N/A	N/A

Profitability

This table compares Phio Pharmaceuticals and RespireRx Pharmaceuticals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Phio Pharmaceuticals	N/A	-134.57%	-108.39%
RespireRx Pharmaceuticals	N/A	N/A	N/A

Volatility & Risk

Phio Pharmaceuticals has a beta of 1.09, meaning that its share price is 9% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, RespireRx Pharmaceuticals has a beta of -0.08, meaning that its share price is 108% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

57.3% of Phio Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Phio Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 50.0% of RespireRx Pharmaceuticals shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Phio Pharmaceuticals beats RespireRx Pharmaceuticals on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Phio Pharmaceuticals

Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. engages in the development of immuno-oncology therapeutics in the United States. The company is developing PH-762, an INTASYL compound in Phase 1b dose-escalating clinical trials to reduce the expression of cell death protein 1 (PD-1), a protein that inhibits T cells’ ability to kill cancer cells; and PH-762 treated double positive tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, which is in Phase 1 clinical trials to treat advanced melanoma and other advanced solid tumors. It is also developing PH-894, an INTASYL compound in IND enabling studies to silence BRD4, a protein that controls gene expression in both T cells and tumor cells, effecting the immune system and the tumor. The company was formerly known as RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation and changed its name to Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. in November 2018. Phio Pharmaceuticals Corp. was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Marlborough, Massachusetts.

About RespireRx Pharmaceuticals

RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. It has two drug platforms comprising ResolutionRx, a pharmaceutical cannabinoids platform, which includes dronabinol that acts upon the CB1 and CB2 endocannabinoid receptors for use in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, as well as for anorexia in patients with AIDS and obstructive sleep apnea; and EndeavourRx, a neuromodulators platform that comprises AMPAkines program, including proprietary compounds that are positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of glutamate receptors to promote neuronal function, and GABAkines program, including proprietary compounds that are PAMs of GABAA receptors. The company’s lead ampakine, CX1739, which has completed Phase II clinical studies for opioid-induced respiratory depression, as well as for central sleep apnea. It is also developing CX717, CX1739, and CX1942 that have clinical application in the treatment of CNS-driven neurobehavioral and cognitive disorders, spinal cord injury, neurological diseases, and various orphan indications. It has a research collaboration with University College London to the use of AMPAkines for the treatment of GRIA disorders. The company was formerly known as Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and changed its name to RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. in December 2015. RespireRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Glen Rock, New Jersey.