HBIO
Harvard Bioscience, Inc.
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Market Cap$304M
5Y Perf.-89.9%
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Stock Comparison
HBIO vs BEAT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BEAT
HeartBeam, Inc.
Medical - Healthcare Information Services
Market Cap$35M
5Y Perf.-75.6%
HBIO vs BEAT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HBIO | BEAT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Instruments & Supplies | Medical - Healthcare Information Services |
| Market Cap | $304M | $35M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $87M | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-57M | $-21M |
| Gross Margin | 53.0% | — |
| Operating Margin | -0.7% | — |
| Total Debt | $36M | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9M | $4M |
HBIO vs BEAT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HBIO
BEAT
| Stock | Nov 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard Bioscience,… (HBIO) | 100 | 10.1 | -89.9% |
| HeartBeam, Inc. (BEAT) | 100 | 24.4 | -75.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HBIO vs BEAT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HBIO leads in 3 of 5 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. HeartBeam, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HBIO
Harvard Bioscience, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
HBIO carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- -76.2% 10Y total return vs BEAT's -81.4%
- -8.1% revenue growth vs BEAT's -100.0%
- +126.3% vs BEAT's -53.7%
Best for: long-term compounding
BEAT
HeartBeam, Inc.
The Income Pick
BEAT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.24
- EPS growth 15.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.24
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HBIO | -8.1% revenue growth vs BEAT's -100.0% |
| Stability / Safety | BEAT | Beta 1.24 vs HBIO's 2.03 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | HBIO | +126.3% vs BEAT's -53.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HBIO | -71.3% ROA vs BEAT's -353.1% |
HBIO vs BEAT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2019
HBIO vs BEAT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHBIOLAGGINGBEAT
BEATHeartBeam, Inc.
0leads
HBIOHarvard Bioscience, I…
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6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BEATMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
—
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HBIO4/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HBIO and BEAT operate at a comparable scale, with $87M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | HBIOHarvard Bioscienc… | BEATHeartBeam, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $87M | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5M | -$21M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$57M | -$21M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | -$15M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +53.0% | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -0.7% | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -65.5% | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +5.9% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.3% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +22.2% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — HBIO and BEAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HBIOHarvard Bioscienc… | BEATHeartBeam, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $304M | $35M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $331M | $31M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.30x | -1.40x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 62.25x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.51x | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 21.95x | 11.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 54.08x | — |
Evenly matched — HBIO and BEAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HBIO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HBIO delivers a -3.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-6 for BEAT. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HBIO scores 4/9 vs BEAT's 1/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | HBIOHarvard Bioscienc… | BEATHeartBeam, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.9% | -5.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -71.3% | -3.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.7% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.0% | -4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 1 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.61x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $27M | -$4M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9M | $4M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $36M | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -0.13x | — |
HBIO leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — HBIO and BEAT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BEAT five years ago would be worth $1,856 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $925 for HBIO. Over the past 12 months, HBIO leads with a +126.3% total return vs BEAT's -53.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BEAT at -25.8% vs HBIO's -51.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HBIOHarvard Bioscienc… | BEATHeartBeam, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +4.1% | -64.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +126.3% | -53.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.5% | -59.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -90.7% | -81.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -76.2% | -81.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -51.4% | -25.8% |
Evenly matched — HBIO and BEAT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HBIO and BEAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BEAT is the less volatile stock with a 1.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than HBIO's 2.03 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HBIO currently trades 71.8% from its 52-week high vs BEAT's 21.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HBIOHarvard Bioscienc… | BEATHeartBeam, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.03x | 1.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.46 | $4.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.59 | $0.54 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.8% | +21.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.8 | 37.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 59K | 1.6M |
Evenly matched — HBIO and BEAT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | HBIOHarvard Bioscienc… | BEATHeartBeam, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
HBIO leads in 1 of 6 categories — strongest in Profitability & Efficiency. 3 categories are tied.
Best OverallHarvard Bioscience, Inc. (HBIO)Leads 1 of 6 categories
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HBIO vs BEAT: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HBIO or BEAT a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Harvard Bioscience, Inc.
(HBIO) a "Buy" — based on 5 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — HBIO or BEAT?
Over the past 5 years, HeartBeam, Inc.
(BEAT) delivered a total return of -81. 4%, compared to -90. 7% for Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (HBIO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HBIO returned -76. 2% versus BEAT's -81. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — HBIO or BEAT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HeartBeam, Inc.
(BEAT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 24β versus Harvard Bioscience, Inc. 's 2. 03β — meaning HBIO is approximately 64% more volatile than BEAT relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — HBIO or BEAT?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: HeartBeam, Inc.
grew EPS 15. 1% year-over-year, compared to -357. 1% for Harvard Bioscience, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — HBIO or BEAT?
HeartBeam, Inc.
(BEAT) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -65. 5% for Harvard Bioscience, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BEAT leads at 0. 0% versus -0. 7% for HBIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HBIO leads at 53. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Which pays a better dividend — HBIO or BEAT?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is HBIO or BEAT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HeartBeam, Inc.
(BEAT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 24)). Harvard Bioscience, Inc. (HBIO) carries a higher beta of 2. 03 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (BEAT: -81. 4%, HBIO: -76. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between HBIO and BEAT?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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