908 Devices (NASDAQ:MASS) vs. Alphatec (NASDAQ:ATEC) Head-To-Head Survey

908 Devices (NASDAQ:MASS) and Alphatec (NASDAQ:ATEC) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, profitability, earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

88.1% of 908 Devices shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 66.4% of Alphatec shares are owned by institutional investors. 23.7% of 908 Devices shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 20.9% of Alphatec shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares 908 Devices and Alphatec’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
908 Devices	-62.40%	-14.03%	-10.40%
Alphatec	-15.93%	-1,183.84%	-15.83%

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for 908 Devices and Alphatec, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
908 Devices	0	1	1	0	2.50
Alphatec	1	1	10	0	2.75

908 Devices currently has a consensus price target of $12.00, suggesting a potential upside of 46.88%. Alphatec has a consensus price target of $18.58, suggesting a potential upside of 147.12%. Given Alphatec’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Alphatec is more favorable than 908 Devices.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares 908 Devices and Alphatec”s revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
908 Devices	$56.20 million	5.50	$19.49 million	($1.00)	-8.17
Alphatec	$764.16 million	1.51	-$143.36 million	($0.82)	-9.17

908 Devices has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Alphatec. Alphatec is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than 908 Devices, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility and Risk

908 Devices has a beta of 0.57, suggesting that its stock price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Alphatec has a beta of 0.96, suggesting that its stock price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500.

About 908 Devices

908 Devices Inc., a commercial-stage technology company, provides various purpose-built handheld and desktop mass spectrometry devices to interrogate unknown and invisible materials in life sciences research, bioprocessing, pharma/biopharma, forensics, and adjacent markets. The company's products include MX908, a handheld, battery-powered, and Mass Spec device that is designed for rapid analysis of solid, liquid, vapor, and aerosol materials of unknown identity; Rebel, a small desktop analyzer that provides real-time information on the extracellular environment in bioprocesses; and Maverick, an optical in-line analyzer that offers real-time monitoring and control of multiple bioprocess parameters, including glucose, lactate, and total biomass in mammalian cell cultures, as well as provides process fingerprint data to support large-scale efforts in predictive bioprocess modeling. Its products also comprise Maven and Trace C2, an online device for bioprocess monitoring and control; and ZipChip solution, a plug-and-play, high-resolution separation platform that optimizes Mass Spec sample analysis. The company operates in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and rest of the Americas. 908 Devices Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

About Alphatec

Alphatec Holdings, Inc., a medical technology company, designs, develops, and advances technologies for the surgical treatment of spinal disorders in the United States and internationally. It manufactures and sells implants and instruments through third-party suppliers. The company offers Alpha InformatiX product platform, including EOS imaging system that provides full-body imaging; VEA alignment mobile application, which leverages EOS technology to more quickly quantify alignment parameters on a mobile device; SafeOp Neural InformatiX System that automates electromyographic and somatosensory evoked potential monitoring; and Valence, an intra-operative system that integrates navigation and robotics into spine procedures, as well as Sigma Prone TransPsoas (PTP) Access and PTP Patient Positioning Systems. It also provides split-blade retractors; Sigma-ALIF Access System, a procedure-specific access system; spinal implants and fixation systems comprising NanoTec surface modifications, Calibrate PSX, and Invictus, as well as various standalone implants for height restoration and stabilization. In addition, the company provides biologics comprising 3D ProFuse Osteoconductive Bioscaffold for ease of handling and better endplate-to-endplate contact; AlphaGRAFT Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM) comprising demineralized human tissues; AlphaGRAFT DBM Fibers comprising demineralized fibers; AlphaGRAFT Cellular Bone Matrix (CBM), a growth factor-enriched cellular bone matrix; AlphaGRAFT CBM that is delivered in granular, fiber, or structural form; BioCORE Moldable Bioactive Graft, a synthetic mineral-collagen composite matrix that can be molded to fit the bone defect; and Amnioshield Amniotic Tissue Barrier, an allograft for spinal surgical barrier applications. The company sells its products through a network of independent sales agents and direct sales representatives. Alphatec Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Carlsbad, California.