4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT) & Quince Therapeutics (NASDAQ:QNCX) Critical Comparison

4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT) and Quince Therapeutics (NASDAQ:QNCX) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and dividends.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

99.3% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 30.8% of Quince Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. 7.3% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.8% of Quince Therapeutics shares are owned by company 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.

Risk and Volatility

4D Molecular Therapeutics has a beta of 2.84, meaning that its stock price is 184% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Quince Therapeutics has a beta of 0.94, meaning that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Quince Therapeutics’ top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
4D Molecular Therapeutics	$20.72 million	52.02	-$100.84 million	($2.44)	-8.55
Quince Therapeutics	N/A	N/A	-$31.39 million	($0.76)	-0.92

Quince Therapeutics has lower revenue, but higher earnings than 4D Molecular Therapeutics. 4D Molecular Therapeutics is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Quince Therapeutics, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Quince Therapeutics’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
4D Molecular Therapeutics	N/A	-26.75%	-24.84%
Quince Therapeutics	N/A	-36.72%	-24.12%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for 4D Molecular Therapeutics and Quince Therapeutics, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
4D Molecular Therapeutics	0	0	10	0	3.00
Quince Therapeutics	0	0	0	0	N/A

4D Molecular Therapeutics presently has a consensus price target of $45.63, suggesting a potential upside of 118.82%. Given 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe 4D Molecular Therapeutics is more favorable than Quince Therapeutics.

Summary

4D Molecular Therapeutics beats Quince Therapeutics on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About 4D Molecular Therapeutics

4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company, develops genetic medicines using its therapeutic vector evolution platform in the Netherland and the United States. The company develops a portfolio of genetic medicine product candidates focuses in three therapeutic areas for ophthalmology, cardiology, and pulmonology. Its product pipeline includes 4D-150, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration; and is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. The company develops 4D-125, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of x-linked retinitis pigmentosa; 4D-110, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment of choroideremia; 4D-710, which is in phase 1/2 clinical trial for the treatment cystic fibrosis lung disease; and 4D-310 to treat fabry disease cardiomyopathy and is in phase 1/2 clinical trial. In addition, its product candidates comprises 4D-175, which is in pre-clinical development for the treatment for geographic trophy; and 4D-725 to treat alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency lung disease and is in pre-clinical development. The company has collaboration and licensing agreements with Arbor Biotechnologies, Inc.; Astellas Gene Therapies, Inc; uniQure biopharma B.V.; and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Emeryville, California.

About Quince Therapeutics

Quince Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on acquiring, developing, and commercializing therapeutics for patients with debilitating and rare diseases. The company's lead asset candidature comprises EryDex for the treatment of rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease, including A-T, an inherited autosomal recessive neurodegenerative and immunodeficiency disorder caused by mutations in ATM gene. Its AIDE technology platform, a drug/device combination platform that uses an automated process to encapsulate a drug into a patient's own red blood cells, as well as consists of an automated equipment the RCL, a sterile single-use consumable treatment kit comprising EryKit, Syringe Kit, drugs, and process solutions. The company was formerly known as Cortexyme, Inc. and changed its name to Quince Therapeutics, Inc. in August 2022. Quince Therapeutics, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in South San Francisco, California.