Investment

Head-To-Head Review: 4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT) & Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA)

Published March 4, 2025

Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA – Get Free Report) and 4D Molecular Therapeutics (NASDAQ:FDMT – Get Free Report) are both notable companies operating in the medical field. This article aims to explore which of these two businesses may be considered superior by comparing their profitability, earnings, risk factors, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, and institutional ownership.

Risk and Volatility

Moderna has a beta of 1.59, suggesting its stock is 59% more volatile than the overall market (as represented by the S&P 500). In contrast, 4D Molecular Therapeutics has a higher beta of 2.81, indicating its stock is 181% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

The table below presents a comparison of revenue, earnings per share (EPS), and valuation metrics for both companies.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio
Moderna $3.20 billion 3.65 -$3.56 billion ($9.28) -3.26
4D Molecular Therapeutics $17,000.00 11,257.88 -$100.84 million ($2.98) -1.39

Although 4D Molecular Therapeutics reports lower revenue than Moderna, it has better earnings performance per share. Additionally, Moderna's lower price-to-earnings ratio suggests that it may be the more affordable investment at present.

Profitability

Below is a comparison of net margins, return on equity, and return on assets for both companies.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Moderna -110.04% -28.74% -21.83%
4D Molecular Therapeutics N/A -28.00% -26.16%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Institutional investors hold 75.3% of Moderna shares, while an impressive 99.3% of 4D Molecular Therapeutics shares are owned by institutional investors. Furthermore, company insiders own 15.7% of Moderna's shares compared to just 7.3% for 4D Molecular Therapeutics. This level of institutional ownership often indicates confidence in a stock's growth potential among larger financial entities.

Analyst Recommendations

Here is a summary of the recent analyst ratings for both companies as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Moderna 4 15 3 1 2.04
4D Molecular Therapeutics 1 2 7 0 2.60

Currently, Moderna has a consensus target price of $60.63, indicating a potential upside of 100.30%. Conversely, 4D Molecular Therapeutics has a target price of $31.63, suggesting a remarkable potential upside of 663.89%. The stronger average rating and higher upside are indicators that analysts favor 4D Molecular Therapeutics over Moderna in their assessments.

Summary

In conclusion, 4D Molecular Therapeutics excels in 11 out of 15 factors compared to Moderna, marking it as the more favorable investment based on several metrics.

About Moderna

Moderna, Inc. is a biotechnology firm specializing in the discovery, development, and commercialization of messenger RNA therapeutics and vaccines to treat various infectious diseases and other health issues. Their range of products includes vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory diseases, as well as therapeutics for cancer and rare diseases. The company was founded in 2010 and operates out of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

About 4D Molecular Therapeutics

4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage company that develops genetic medicines using an innovative therapeutic vector evolution platform. The company focuses on treatments for ophthalmology, cardiology, and pulmonology, with various product candidates in different stages of clinical trials. Founded in 2013, its headquarters is located in Emeryville, California.

Moderna, 4D, Therapeutics, Investment