APLS vs BEAM

For growth investors, Beam Therapeutics Inc.

(BEAM) is the stronger pick with 120. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 28. 5% for Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS). Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS) offers the better valuation at 227. 8x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS) a "Buy" — based on 25 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.

Over the past 5 years, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(APLS) delivered a total return of -12. 9%, compared to -55. 6% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: APLS returned +192. 3% versus BEAM's +67. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(APLS) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 06β versus Beam Therapeutics Inc. 's 2. 14β — meaning BEAM is approximately 101% more volatile than APLS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 24% versus 131% for Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Beam Therapeutics Inc.

(BEAM) is pulling ahead at 120. 0% versus 28. 5% for Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. grew EPS 111. 3% year-over-year, compared to 82. 3% for Beam Therapeutics Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, APLS leads at 137. 0% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(APLS) is the more profitable company, earning 2. 2% net margin versus -57. 2% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APLS leads at 5. 5% versus -274. 6% for BEAM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — APLS leads at 89. 8%, 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.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(APLS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 06), +192. 3% 10Y return). Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (APLS: +192. 3%, BEAM: +67. 8%), 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.

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.