Direct Digital (DRCT) Competitors

MultiPlan (NYSE:MPLN) and Direct Digital (NASDAQ:DRCT) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their media sentiment, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, community ranking and risk.

Does the media favor MPLN or DRCT?

In the previous week, MultiPlan had 5 more articles in the media than Direct Digital. MarketBeat recorded 7 mentions for MultiPlan and 2 mentions for Direct Digital. Direct Digital's average media sentiment score of 0.62 beat MultiPlan's score of 0.17 indicating that Direct Digital is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
MultiPlan	Neutral
Direct Digital	Positive

Which has more risk & volatility, MPLN or DRCT?

MultiPlan has a beta of 0.52, indicating that its stock price is 48% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Direct Digital has a beta of 7.59, indicating that its stock price is 659% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Do institutionals and insiders hold more shares of MPLN or DRCT?

87.2% of MultiPlan shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 4.0% of Direct Digital shares are held by institutional investors. 8.2% of MultiPlan shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 80.8% of Direct Digital shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Does the MarketBeat Community favor MPLN or DRCT?

Direct Digital received 4 more outperform votes than MultiPlan when rated by MarketBeat users. Likewise, 73.68% of users gave Direct Digital an outperform vote while only 38.46% of users gave MultiPlan an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
MultiPlan	Outperform Votes 10 38.46%	Underperform Votes 16 61.54%
Direct Digital	Outperform Votes 14 73.68%	Underperform Votes 5 26.32%

Which has stronger valuation & earnings, MPLN or DRCT?

Direct Digital has lower revenue, but higher earnings than MultiPlan. MultiPlan is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Direct Digital, 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
MultiPlan	$954.92M	0.17	-$91.70M	-$0.98	-0.25
Direct Digital	$157.11M	0.22	$1.99M	$0.14	17.57

Is MPLN or DRCT more profitable?

Direct Digital has a net margin of 1.26% compared to MultiPlan's net margin of -122.73%. Direct Digital's return on equity of 48.38% beat MultiPlan's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
MultiPlan	-122.73%	-8.90%	-1.78%
Direct Digital	1.26%	48.38%	3.30%

Do analysts recommend MPLN or DRCT?

MultiPlan presently has a consensus price target of $1.00, suggesting a potential upside of 321.76%. Direct Digital has a consensus price target of $21.00, suggesting a potential upside of 753.66%. Given Direct Digital's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Direct Digital is more favorable than MultiPlan.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
MultiPlan	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	0 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.00
Direct Digital	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67

Summary

Direct Digital beats MultiPlan on 15 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.