Apyx Medical (NASDAQ:APYX – Get Free Report) and Merit Medical Systems (NASDAQ:MMSI – Get Free Report) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability and earnings.
Institutional and Insider Ownership
55.3% of Apyx Medical shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 99.7% of Merit Medical Systems shares are held by institutional investors. 15.9% of Apyx Medical shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Merit Medical Systems shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Apyx Medical and Merit Medical Systems”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Apyx Medical | $52.84 million | 2.44 | -$11.21 million | ($0.20) | -15.30 |
| Merit Medical Systems | $1.52 billion | 3.36 | $128.49 million | $2.42 | 35.28 |
Merit Medical Systems has higher revenue and earnings than Apyx Medical. Apyx Medical is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Merit Medical Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability
This table compares Apyx Medical and Merit Medical Systems’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Apyx Medical | -14.78% | -76.60% | -13.91% |
| Merit Medical Systems | 9.22% | 13.75% | 8.10% |
Analyst Ratings
This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Apyx Medical and Merit Medical Systems, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Apyx Medical | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2.71 |
| Merit Medical Systems | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 2.83 |
Apyx Medical presently has a consensus target price of $6.60, indicating a potential upside of 115.69%. Merit Medical Systems has a consensus target price of $100.00, indicating a potential upside of 17.14%. Given Apyx Medical’s higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Apyx Medical is more favorable than Merit Medical Systems.
Risk & Volatility
Apyx Medical has a beta of 1.31, meaning that its share price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Merit Medical Systems has a beta of 0.49, meaning that its share price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Merit Medical Systems beats Apyx Medical on 11 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Apyx Medical
Apyx Medical Corporation, an energy technology company, engages in the design, development, and manufacture of medical devices in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Advanced Energy and Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM). It offers Helium Plasma Generator for delivery of RF energy and helium plasma to cut, coagulate, and ablate soft tissue during open and minimally invasive surgical procedures. The company's Helium Plasma Technology products are marketed and sold under the Renuvion name in the cosmetic surgery market and under the J-Plasma name in the hospital surgical market. It also develops and manufactures various hand pieces for open and laparoscopic procedures; and OEM generators, as well as related accessories. The company was formerly known as Bovie Medical Corporation and changed its name to Apyx Medical Corporation in January 2019. Apyx Medical Corporation was incorporated in 1982 and is based in Clearwater, Florida.
About Merit Medical Systems
Merit Medical Systems, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, and markets single-use medical products for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Cardiovascular and Endoscopy. The company provides micropuncture kits, angiographic needles, sheaths, guide wires, and safety products; peripheral intervention, including angiography, drainage, delivery systems, and embolotherapy products; spine products, such as vertebral augmentation, radiofrequency ablation, and bone biopsy systems; oncology products; and cardiac intervention products, such as access, angiography, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management, fluid management, hemodynamic monitoring, hemostasis, and intervention to treat various heart conditions. It also offers custom procedural solutions that include critical care products, disinfection protection systems, syringes, manifold kits, and trays and packs; coating services for medical tubes and wires; and sensor components for microelectromechanical systems. In addition, the company provides pulmonary products that consist of laser-cut tracheobronchial stents, over-the-wire and direct visualization delivery systems, and dilation balloons to endoscopically dilate structures; gastroenterology products, such as covered esophageal stents, syringe and gauges, and balloon dilators; and kits and accessories for endoscopy and bronchoscopy procedures. It sells its products to hospitals and alternate site-based physicians, technicians, and nurses through direct sales force, distributors, original equipment manufacturer partners, or custom procedure tray manufacturers. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in South Jordan, Utah.
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