Critical Comparison: Edap Tms (NASDAQ:EDAP) & Semler Scientific (NASDAQ:SMLR)

Semler Scientific (NASDAQ:SMLR) and Edap Tms (NASDAQ:EDAP) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, institutional ownership, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and dividends.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Semler Scientific and Edap Tms”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Semler Scientific	$61.74 million	2.72	$20.58 million	$2.79	8.52
Edap Tms	$62.05 million	1.68	-$22.92 million	($0.54)	-5.20

Semler Scientific has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Edap Tms. Edap Tms is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Semler Scientific, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

49.4% of Semler Scientific shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 62.7% of Edap Tms shares are held by institutional investors. 13.0% of Semler Scientific shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Edap Tms shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Semler Scientific and Edap Tms’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Semler Scientific	25.62%	21.17%	19.40%
Edap Tms	-31.68%	-36.41%	-22.25%

Volatility and Risk

Semler Scientific has a beta of 0.96, indicating that its share price is 4% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Edap Tms has a beta of 0.43, indicating that its share price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Semler Scientific and Edap Tms, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Semler Scientific	0	0	0	1	4.00
Edap Tms	0	0	2	0	3.00

Edap Tms has a consensus price target of $14.00, indicating a potential upside of 398.22%. Given Edap Tms’ higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Edap Tms is more favorable than Semler Scientific.

Summary

Semler Scientific beats Edap Tms on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Semler Scientific

Semler Scientific, Inc. provides technology solutions to enhance the clinical effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare providers in the United States. The company's products include QuantaFlo, a four-minute in-office blood flow test that enables healthcare providers to use blood flow measurements as part of their examinations of a patient's vascular condition. It also offers Insulin Insights, a software program that is used by a healthcare provider to optimize outpatient insulin dosing. The company's products serve cardiologists, internists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, podiatrists, family practitioners, healthcare insurance plans, integrated delivery networks, independent physician groups, and companies contracting with the healthcare industry, such as risk assessment groups and retailers. It offers its products through sales representatives and distributors. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

About Edap Tms

EDAP TMS S.A., together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, markets, distributes, and maintains a portfolio of minimally invasive medical devices for the treatment of urological diseases in Asia, France, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), Extracorporeal ShockWave Lithotripsy (ESWL), and Distribution Services (DIST) segments. The HIFU segment develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices based on HIFU technology for the minimally invasive treatment of urological and other clinical indications. This segment also offers Ablatherm, an ultrasound guided robotic HIFU device for the treatment of organ-confined prostate cancer; and the Focal One, a HIFU robotic device dedicated to the focal therapy of prostate cancer, as well as disposables, and leasing and treatment related services; and maintenance services. The ESWL division manufactures, markets, and services lithotripter for the treatment of urinary tract stones by means of ESWL technology; and offers Sonolith i-move, an extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter, as well as sells disposable parts for lithotripters and electrodes. The Distribution division markets, distributes, and services lasers, micro-ultrasound systems, and other medical products from third parties, as well as leases devices; sells disposables and spare parts; and offers maintenance services. It markets and sells its products through its direct marketing, sales organization, and service platform, as well as through third-party distributors and agents. The company serves hospitals, urology clinics, and research institutions. EDAP TMS S.A. was incorporated in 1979 and is based in Lyon, France.