LAVA Therapeutics (LVTX) Competitors

LAVA Therapeutics (NASDAQ:LVTX) and MediciNova (NASDAQ:MNOV) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their community ranking, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, media sentiment, earnings, profitability and dividends.

Do analysts recommend LVTX or MNOV?

LAVA Therapeutics currently has a consensus target price of $3.33, indicating a potential upside of 246.82%. MediciNova has a consensus target price of $9.00, indicating a potential upside of 356.85%. Given MediciNova's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe MediciNova is more favorable than LAVA Therapeutics.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
LAVA Therapeutics	0 Sell rating(s)	4 Hold rating(s)	1 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.20
MediciNova	0 Sell rating(s)	0 Hold rating(s)	1 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00

Does the media favor LVTX or MNOV?

In the previous week, MediciNova had 2 more articles in the media than LAVA Therapeutics. MarketBeat recorded 6 mentions for MediciNova and 4 mentions for LAVA Therapeutics. LAVA Therapeutics' average media sentiment score of 1.35 beat MediciNova's score of 1.04 indicating that LAVA Therapeutics is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
LAVA Therapeutics	0 Very Positive mention(s)	0 Positive mention(s)	1 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive
MediciNova	1 Very Positive mention(s)	2 Positive mention(s)	1 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Do insiders & institutionals believe in LVTX or MNOV?

9.9% of MediciNova shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of LAVA Therapeutics shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 14.9% of MediciNova shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Is LVTX or MNOV more profitable?

MediciNova has a net margin of 0.00% compared to LAVA Therapeutics' net margin of -228.02%. MediciNova's return on equity of -17.55% beat LAVA Therapeutics' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
LAVA Therapeutics	-228.02%	-62.22%	-29.37%
MediciNova	N/A	-17.55%	-16.62%

Does the MarketBeat Community favor LVTX or MNOV?

MediciNova received 185 more outperform votes than LAVA Therapeutics when rated by MarketBeat users. However, 69.44% of users gave LAVA Therapeutics an outperform vote while only 48.50% of users gave MediciNova an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
LAVA Therapeutics	Outperform Votes 25 69.44%	Underperform Votes 11 30.56%
MediciNova	Outperform Votes 210 48.50%	Underperform Votes 223 51.50%

Which has more risk and volatility, LVTX or MNOV?

LAVA Therapeutics has a beta of 0.56, indicating that its share price is 44% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, MediciNova has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its share price is 16% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Which has stronger valuation & earnings, LVTX or MNOV?

MediciNova has lower revenue, but higher earnings than LAVA Therapeutics. MediciNova is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than LAVA Therapeutics, 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
LAVA Therapeutics	$7.35M	3.32	-$41.97M	-$1.03	-0.93
MediciNova	$1M	96.62	-$8.56M	-$0.21	-9.38

Summary

MediciNova beats LAVA Therapeutics on 13 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.