iSpecimen (NASDAQ:ISPC) versus PACS Group (NYSE:PACS) Critical Comparison
by Renee Jackson · The Cerbat GemiSpecimen (NASDAQ:ISPC – Get Free Report) and PACS Group (NYSE:PACS – Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, profitability and valuation.
Volatility & Risk
iSpecimen has a beta of 1.8, indicating that its share price is 80% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, PACS Group has a beta of -0.63, indicating that its share price is 163% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider & Institutional Ownership
13.6% of iSpecimen shares are owned by institutional investors. 12.2% of iSpecimen shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 70.4% of PACS Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Analyst Ratings
This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for iSpecimen and PACS Group, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| iSpecimen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| PACS Group | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2.57 |
PACS Group has a consensus price target of $39.40, indicating a potential upside of 3.41%. Given PACS Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe PACS Group is more favorable than iSpecimen.
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares iSpecimen and PACS Group”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| iSpecimen | $9.29 million | 0.40 | -$12.50 million | ($7.89) | -0.05 |
| PACS Group | $4.09 billion | 1.46 | $55.76 million | $1.05 | 36.29 |
PACS Group has higher revenue and earnings than iSpecimen. iSpecimen is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than PACS Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares iSpecimen and PACS Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| iSpecimen | -343.86% | -531.78% | -147.74% |
| PACS Group | 3.29% | 21.39% | 3.09% |
Summary
PACS Group beats iSpecimen on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About iSpecimen
iSpecimen Inc. provides technology that connects life science researchers who need human biofluids, tissues, and living cells for their research with biospecimens available in healthcare provider organizations worldwide. Its cloud-based technology enables scientists to search for specimens and patients across a network of hospitals, clinics, private practice groups, laboratories, blood centers, biobanks, clinical research sites, and cadaveric donation centers. The company develops and operates iSpecimen Marketplace, a proprietary online marketplace platform that connects medical researchers who need access to subjects, samples, and data with hospitals, laboratories, and other organizations who have access to them. It serves biopharmaceutical companies, in vitro diagnostic companies, and government/academic institutions. iSpecimen Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts.
About PACS Group
PACS Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities in the United States. The company also provides senior care and independent facilities. It engages in the acquisition, ownership, and leasing of health care-related properties. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Farmington, Utah.