The Biotech Growth Trust (BIOG) Competitors

The Biotech Growth Trust (LON:BIOG) and Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust (LON:ASL) are both small-cap financial services companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, media sentiment, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, community ranking, valuation, dividends and risk.

Which has more volatility and risk, BIOG or ASL?

The Biotech Growth Trust has a beta of 0.49, suggesting that its share price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has a beta of 1.34, suggesting that its share price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Does the media favor BIOG or ASL?

In the previous week, The Biotech Growth Trust and The Biotech Growth Trust both had 1 articles in the media. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's average media sentiment score of 1.66 beat The Biotech Growth Trust's score of 1.64 indicating that Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
The Biotech Growth Trust	1 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Very Positive
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust	1 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Very Positive

Is BIOG or ASL more profitable?

The Biotech Growth Trust has a net margin of 92.85% compared to Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's net margin of 86.17%. The Biotech Growth Trust's return on equity of 21.57% beat Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
The Biotech Growth Trust	92.85%	21.57%	12.39%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust	86.17%	7.77%	4.79%

Which has preferable earnings and valuation, BIOG or ASL?

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust has higher revenue and earnings than The Biotech Growth Trust. The Biotech Growth Trust is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
The Biotech Growth Trust	£80.35M	4.24	£74.60M	£2.07	505.31
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust	£114.95M	11.42	£99.04M	£1.17	1,331.62

Do analysts recommend BIOG or ASL?

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
The Biotech Growth Trust	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	N/A
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	N/A

Does the MarketBeat Community believe in BIOG or ASL?

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust received 1 more outperform votes than The Biotech Growth Trust when rated by MarketBeat users. Likewise, 72.81% of users gave Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust an outperform vote while only 64.06% of users gave The Biotech Growth Trust an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
The Biotech Growth Trust	Outperform Votes 82 64.06%	Underperform Votes 46 35.94%
Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust	Outperform Votes 83 72.81%	Underperform Votes 31 27.19%

Do institutionals & insiders believe in BIOG or ASL?

28.2% of The Biotech Growth Trust shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.0% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of The Biotech Growth Trust shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 10.4% of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust beats The Biotech Growth Trust on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.