DNLI
Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.19B
5Y Perf.-26.7%
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Stock Comparison
DNLI vs RCUS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RCUS
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$2.62B
5Y Perf.-17.1%
DNLI vs RCUS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DNLI | RCUS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $3.19B | $2.62B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $236M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-513M | $-369M |
| Gross Margin | — | 90.7% |
| Operating Margin | — | -168.6% |
| Total Debt | $33M | $99M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $205M | $222M |
DNLI vs RCUS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DNLI
RCUS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denali Therapeutics… (DNLI) | 100 | 73.3 | -26.7% |
| Arcus Biosciences, … (RCUS) | 100 | 82.9 | -17.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DNLI vs RCUS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RCUS leads in 3 of 5 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. Denali Therapeutics 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.
DNLI
Denali Therapeutics Inc.
The Income Pick
DNLI is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.82
- Lower volatility, beta 1.82, Low D/E 3.2%, current ratio 9.16x
- Beta 1.82, current ratio 9.16x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
RCUS
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
The Growth Play
RCUS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -4.3%, EPS growth -4.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 30.2%
- 52.9% 10Y total return vs DNLI's -4.9%
- -4.3% revenue growth vs DNLI's -20.3%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RCUS | -4.3% revenue growth vs DNLI's -20.3% |
| Stability / Safety | DNLI | Beta 1.82 vs RCUS's 1.95, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | RCUS | +220.2% vs DNLI's +46.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RCUS | -35.3% ROA vs DNLI's -44.8%, ROIC -64.1% vs -42.8% |
DNLI vs RCUS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2020
FY 2025
DNLI vs RCUS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRCUSLAGGINGDNLI
DNLIDenali Therapeutics I…
1leads
RCUSArcus Biosciences, In…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs DNLIMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RCUS1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
DNLI6/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RCUS5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCUS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCUS and DNLI operate at a comparable scale, with $236M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | DNLIDenali Therapeuti… | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $236M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$544M | -$391M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$513M | -$369M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$422M | -$489M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +90.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -168.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -156.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -2.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -39.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.0% | +10.5% |
RCUS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — DNLI and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DNLIDenali Therapeuti… | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $2.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.0B | $2.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -6.87x | -7.90x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 10.60x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.53x | 4.43x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — DNLI and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DNLI leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
DNLI delivers a -50.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-51 in annual profit, vs $-69 for RCUS. DNLI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RCUS's 0.16x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DNLI scores 3/9 vs RCUS's 0/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | DNLIDenali Therapeuti… | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -50.6% | -69.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -44.8% | -35.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -42.8% | -64.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -47.9% | -42.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 0 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$173M | -$123M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $205M | $222M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $99M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -13.38x |
DNLI leads this category, winning 6 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RCUS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RCUS five years ago would be worth $8,629 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,780 for DNLI. Over the past 12 months, RCUS leads with a +220.2% total return vs DNLI's +46.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RCUS at 9.4% vs DNLI's -8.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DNLIDenali Therapeuti… | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +25.4% | +11.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +46.0% | +220.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.2% | +31.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -62.2% | -13.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -4.9% | +52.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -8.4% | +9.4% |
RCUS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — DNLI and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DNLI is the less volatile stock with a 1.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RCUS's 1.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RCUS currently trades 90.5% from its 52-week high vs DNLI's 85.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DNLIDenali Therapeuti… | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.82x | 1.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.77 | $28.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.58 | $7.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.8% | +90.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.5 | 60.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.6M | 1.2M |
Evenly matched — DNLI and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DNLI as "Buy" and RCUS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 69.1% upside for DNLI (target: $35) vs 15.4% for RCUS (target: $30).
| Metric | DNLIDenali Therapeuti… | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $34.50 | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
RCUS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). DNLI leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallArcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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DNLI vs RCUS: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DNLI or RCUS a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Denali Therapeutics Inc.
(DNLI) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 — DNLI or RCUS?
Over the past 5 years, Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
(RCUS) delivered a total return of -13. 7%, compared to -62. 2% for Denali Therapeutics Inc. (DNLI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RCUS returned +52. 9% versus DNLI's -4. 9%. 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 — DNLI or RCUS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Denali Therapeutics Inc.
(DNLI) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 82β versus Arcus Biosciences, Inc. 's 1. 95β — meaning RCUS is approximately 7% more volatile than DNLI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Denali Therapeutics Inc. (DNLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 16% for Arcus Biosciences, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — DNLI or RCUS?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
grew EPS -4. 8% year-over-year, compared to -15. 6% for Denali Therapeutics 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 — DNLI or RCUS?
Denali Therapeutics Inc.
(DNLI) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -142. 9% for Arcus Biosciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DNLI leads at 0. 0% versus -156. 3% for RCUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RCUS leads at 96. 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 — DNLI or RCUS?
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 DNLI or RCUS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Denali Therapeutics Inc.
(DNLI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS) carries a higher beta of 1. 95 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DNLI: -4. 9%, RCUS: +52. 9%), 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 DNLI and RCUS?
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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