We recently compiled a list of the 7 Most Undervalued Canadian Stocks To Buy According To Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN) stands against the other undervalued Canadian stocks.
The Canadian stock market experienced a notable rebound in the third quarter of 2024, following a sluggish performance earlier in the year. This resurgence was primarily fueled by a series of interest rate cuts by the Bank of Canada, which helped cool inflation and support broader economic recovery. The central bank’s actions, which included rate reductions totaling 75 basis points so far, have rejuvenated the real estate market and provided a significant lift to financial services stocks. According to a report by Reuters, the Toronto market gained 9.7% in Q3 2024, making it the strongest quarterly performance since 2019. The impact of these measures has created an optimistic outlook for the market, potentially setting the stage for continued growth in the coming months.
The third quarter proved to be the strongest for Canada’s main stock market, thanks to a combination of domestic rate cuts and rebounding global markets. Economies around the world showed signs of recovery, improving investor sentiment and benefiting Canadian equities. Financial and technology stocks were among the biggest contributors to the market’s positive performance, with financial stocks gaining 10% and tech stocks up by 12% during the quarter, according to data from Reuters.
This strong performance was driven by key players in the industry, highlighting the potential of Canadian financial and tech stocks. The financial sector also saw significant gains, supported by the large weight of financials in the Canadian index, which amplified the impact of rate relief on credit performance. The recovery was further bolstered by strong earnings reports and a pivot towards rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which lent additional support to the Canadian market.
The impressive performance of Canadian stocks can be attributed to a combination of domestic and global factors. Analysts noted that the Bank of Canada’s rate cuts had a revitalizing effect on the real estate market, which in turn bolstered financial services stocks. Jimmy Jean, a prominent economist, pointed out that the expectation of additional rate cuts created a favorable environment for the real estate sector, allowing it to lead the market recovery.
Furthermore, the Canadian stock market benefited from a broader global recovery, as investor sentiment improved in tandem with solid earnings reports from international markets. In this context, Canada emerged as one of the best-performing markets worldwide in the third quarter, following a period of underperformance in the second quarter.
As the outlook for the remainder of the year unfolds, analysts anticipate that if the Bank of Canada continues its rate-cutting strategy, the positive momentum could persist. Lower mortgage rates are expected to alleviate borrowing costs for households, stimulating demand for housing and further strengthening the real estate and financial sectors. However, challenges remain, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions that could impact oil prices and the energy sector. Despite these concerns, the overall sentiment surrounding Canadian equities remains cautiously optimistic, with a focus on identifying undervalued stocks poised for growth in this evolving market landscape.
With these factors in mind, this article delves into the seven most undervalued Canadian stocks that analysts recommend for investors seeking opportunities in this recovering market.
Our Methodology
For this article, we used the Finviz stock screener to identify all the companies operating out of Canada with a forward Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 15 as of October 7, 2024. We then reviewed the price targets set by analysts for each stock and compared them to their respective closing prices on October 7 to evaluate the upside potential. Additionally, we analyzed data from approximately 912 elite hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey during the second quarter of 2024 to assess hedge fund ownership of each company. The stocks are ranked in ascending order based on their upside potential.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A biotechnology research center with scientists wearing lab coats and goggles experimenting with single molecule sequencing.
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN)
Upside Potential: 750%
Forward Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: 5.32
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 1
Topping our list of seven most undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to analysts is ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN). It is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Toronto, Canada, focused on discovering and developing antibody therapies and therapeutic vaccines for neurodegenerative diseases and other misfolded protein disorders. The company employs a proprietary discovery platform that utilizes ProMIS and Collective Coordinates algorithms to identify novel targets, known as disease-specific epitopes, on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. ProMIS’s lead candidate, PMN310, is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets toxic oligomers in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
In its recent second-quarter earnings report for 2024, ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN) announced several significant developments that underscore the company’s growth potential and progress in advancing its Alzheimer’s program. ProMIS reported positive topline data from its first-in-human Phase 1a clinical trial of PMN310. The trial, which evaluated the safety and tolerability of PMN310, demonstrated that the antibody was generally safe and well-tolerated across multiple dosage levels, with no severe adverse events observed. Importantly, PMN310 showed the ability to penetrate the central nervous system in quantities sufficient to potentially achieve target engagement. This is a critical step as the company prepares to advance to its Phase 1b clinical study in the second half of 2024.
Additionally, ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN) strengthened its financial position by securing up to $122.7 million in private placement financing. This includes an initial upfront investment of $30.3 million and the potential to raise an additional $92.4 million upon achieving certain milestones. These funds will support the continued development of PMN310 and the expansion of its pipeline. The robust financing participation from prominent healthcare specialty funds such as Great Point Partners, LLC, and Armistice Capital reflects investor confidence in ProMIS’s innovative approach to treating Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.
From a financial perspective, ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN) reported a net loss of $2.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to a loss of $2.3 million in the same period in 2023. The company’s research and development expenses rose to $1.6 million, driven by increased costs related to the PMN310 clinical trial. With a strengthened balance sheet and positive clinical data, ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:PMN) is well-positioned to continue its pursuit of transformative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, making it a compelling investment opportunity among Canadian biotech stocks.
Overall PMN ranks 1st on our list of the most undervalued Canadian stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of PMN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than PMN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.