Critical Contrast: BioLife Solutions (NASDAQ:BLFS) vs. FitLife Brands (NASDAQ:FTLF)

BioLife Solutions (NASDAQ:BLFS) and FitLife Brands (NASDAQ:FTLF) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership and risk.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares BioLife Solutions and FitLife Brands”s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
BioLife Solutions	$96.21 million	13.25	-$4.59 million	($0.08)	-326.25
FitLife Brands	$90.85 million	1.14	$6.33 million	$0.60	18.35

FitLife Brands has lower revenue, but higher earnings than BioLife Solutions. BioLife Solutions is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than FitLife Brands, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

93.2% of BioLife Solutions shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 2.3% of FitLife Brands shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.2% of BioLife Solutions shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 61.4% of FitLife Brands shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Risk and Volatility

BioLife Solutions has a beta of 2, meaning that its share price is 100% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, FitLife Brands has a beta of 0.02, meaning that its share price is 98% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings for BioLife Solutions and FitLife Brands, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
BioLife Solutions	1	1	3	0	2.40
FitLife Brands	1	1	2	0	2.25

BioLife Solutions presently has a consensus price target of $32.00, indicating a potential upside of 22.61%. FitLife Brands has a consensus price target of $21.50, indicating a potential upside of 95.28%. Given FitLife Brands’ higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe FitLife Brands is more favorable than BioLife Solutions.

Profitability

This table compares BioLife Solutions and FitLife Brands’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
BioLife Solutions	-2.80%	1.81%	1.65%
FitLife Brands	6.64%	18.31%	8.21%

Summary

FitLife Brands beats BioLife Solutions on 8 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BioLife Solutions

BioLife Solutions, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) industry in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. The company’s products are used in the basic and applied research, and commercial manufacturing of biologic-based therapies. It offers proprietary biopreservation media products, including HypoThermosol FRS and CryoStor Freeze Media that are formulated to mitigate preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death; bioproduction tools, such as human platelet lysates for cell expansion and CellSeal closed system vials that are used in CGT; and the ThawSTAR line that comprises of a family of automated thawing devices for frozen cell and gene therapies packaged in cryovials and cryobags. The company also provides cryogenic freezer technology for controlled rate freezing and cryogenic storage of biologic materials; ultra-low temperature mechanical freezers; evo shipping containers that are cloud-connected passive storage and transport containers for temperature-sensitive biologics and pharmaceuticals; liquid nitrogen laboratory freezers, cryogenic equipment, and accessories; and biological and pharmaceutical storage and transport services. It markets and sells its products directly, as well as through third party distributors. The company was incorporated in 1987 and is headquartered in Bothell, Washington.

About FitLife Brands

FitLife Brands, Inc. provides nutritional supplements for health-conscious consumers in the United States and internationally. The company provides weight loss, sports nutrition, and general health products; sports nutrition products; weight loss and sports nutrition products; sports nutrition and general wellness formulations with an emphasis on natural, vegan, and organic ingredients; and male health and weight loss products, as well as other diet, health, and sports nutrition supplements and related products; and value-oriented sports nutrition and weight loss products. It offers MRC products which includes general health supplements; and natural skincare and beauty products. In addition, it markets its products under the brand names of NDS Nutrition, PMD Sports, SirenLabs, CoreActive, Nutrology, Metis Nutrition, iSatori, BioGenetic Laboratories, Energize, Dr. Tobias, All-Natural Advice, and Maritime Naturals through franchised stores, as well as through retail locations, which include specialty, mass, and online. The company was formerly known as Bond Laboratories, Inc. and changed its name to FitLife Brands, Inc. in September 2013. FitLife Brands, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.