Financial Contrast: Alpha Cognition (OTC:ACOGF) vs. SQZ Biotechnologies (NYSE:SQZ)

SQZ Biotechnologies (NYSE:SQZ) and Alpha Cognition (OTC:ACOGF) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation and risk.

Volatility and Risk

SQZ Biotechnologies has a beta of 2.34, indicating that its share price is 134% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Alpha Cognition has a beta of 2.8, indicating that its share price is 180% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares SQZ Biotechnologies and Alpha Cognition’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
SQZ Biotechnologies	-369.96%	-119.83%	-59.90%
Alpha Cognition	N/A	N/A	-522.43%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

38.5% of SQZ Biotechnologies shares are owned by institutional investors. 16.0% of SQZ Biotechnologies shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 31.5% of Alpha Cognition shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares SQZ Biotechnologies and Alpha Cognition”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
SQZ Biotechnologies	$18.16 million	0.05	-$79.46 million	($2.61)	-0.01
Alpha Cognition	N/A	N/A	-$13.77 million	C($0.12)	N/A

Alpha Cognition has lower revenue, but higher earnings than SQZ Biotechnologies. SQZ Biotechnologies is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Alpha Cognition, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for SQZ Biotechnologies and Alpha Cognition, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
SQZ Biotechnologies	0	0	0	0	0.00
Alpha Cognition	0	0	1	0	3.00

Given Alpha Cognition’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Alpha Cognition is more favorable than SQZ Biotechnologies.

Summary

Alpha Cognition beats SQZ Biotechnologies on 9 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SQZ Biotechnologies

SQZ Biotechnologies Company, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, develops cell therapies for patients with cancer, autoimmune, infectious diseases, and other serious conditions. Its lead product candidate is SQZ-PBMC-HPV, from its SQZ Antigen Presenting Cells platform, which is in a Phase I clinical trial as a monotherapy and in combination with immuno-oncology agents for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors, including cervical, head-and-neck, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancer. The company also develops SQZ-AAC-HPV, which is in a Phase I clinical trial for the treatment of HPV16+ advanced or metastatic solid tumors in monotherapy and in combinations with immune-oncology agents. Its additional platforms in development are SQZ Activating Antigen Carriers; and SQZ Tolerizing Antigen Carriers. The Company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts.

About Alpha Cognition

Alpha Cognition Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, develops treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It develops ALPHA-1062 for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease and mild traumatic brain injury; ALPHA-0602, a gene therapy for the treatment of ALS; and ALPHA-0702 and ALPHA-0802, a granulin epithelin motifs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The company was formerly known as Crystal Bridge Enterprises Inc. and changed its name to Alpha Cognition Inc. in March 2021. Alpha Cognition Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.