GALT
Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$145M
5Y Perf.-25.7%
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Stock Comparison
GALT vs AKBA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AKBA
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$393M
5Y Perf.-87.3%
GALT vs AKBA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | GALT | AKBA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $145M | $393M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $236M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-37M | $-5M |
| Gross Margin | — | 83.3% |
| Operating Margin | — | 9.9% |
| Total Debt | $106M | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $15M | $185M |
GALT vs AKBA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
GALT
AKBA
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galectin Therapeuti… (GALT) | 100 | 74.3 | -25.7% |
| Akebia Therapeutics… (AKBA) | 100 | 12.7 | -87.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GALT vs AKBA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GALT and AKBA are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
GALT
Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
The Income Pick
GALT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.70, yield 0.1%
- 80.0% 10Y total return vs AKBA's -82.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.70, current ratio 0.49x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
AKBA
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
The Growth Play
AKBA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 47.5%, EPS growth 93.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -6.9%
- 47.5% revenue growth vs GALT's -59.9%
- -2.3% margin vs GALT's -29.7%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AKBA | 47.5% revenue growth vs GALT's -59.9% |
| Quality / Margins | AKBA | -2.3% margin vs GALT's -29.7% |
| Stability / Safety | GALT | Beta 0.70 vs AKBA's 1.14 |
| Dividends | GALT | 0.1% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | GALT | +65.4% vs AKBA's -36.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AKBA | -1.4% ROA vs GALT's -290.0% |
GALT vs AKBA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
GALT vs AKBA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAKBALAGGINGGALT
GALTGalectin Therapeutics…
0leads
AKBAAkebia Therapeutics, …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs GALTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AKBA1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AKBA1/1
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AKBA5/5
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)
AKBA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AKBA and GALT operate at a comparable scale, with $236M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | GALTGalectin Therapeu… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $236M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$31M | $24M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$37M | -$5M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$31M | $68M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +83.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +9.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -2.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +28.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +23.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.8% | +51.8% |
AKBA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
AKBA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GALTGalectin Therapeu… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $145M | $393M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $236M | $208M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.96x | -74.00x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 8.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 1.66x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 11.67x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.78x |
AKBA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Profitability & Efficiency
AKBA leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AKBA scores 4/9 vs GALT's 1/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | GALTGalectin Therapeu… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -16.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.9% | -1.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +13.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $91M | -$185M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $15M | $185M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $106M | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -4.24x | 1.39x |
AKBA leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — GALT and AKBA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GALT five years ago would be worth $6,114 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,917 for AKBA. Over the past 12 months, GALT leads with a +65.4% total return vs AKBA's -36.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AKBA at 11.8% vs GALT's 6.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | GALTGalectin Therapeu… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -44.4% | -4.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +65.4% | -36.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.7% | +39.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -38.9% | -50.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +80.0% | -82.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.2% | +11.8% |
Evenly matched — GALT and AKBA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — GALT and AKBA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GALT is the less volatile stock with a 0.70 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AKBA's 1.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AKBA currently trades 36.3% from its 52-week high vs GALT's 31.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | GALTGalectin Therapeu… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.70x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.13 | $4.08 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.21 | $1.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +31.6% | +36.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 40.9 | 53.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 340K | 2.6M |
Evenly matched — GALT and AKBA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GALT as "Buy" and AKBA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 388.9% upside for GALT (target: $11) vs 170.3% for AKBA (target: $4).
| Metric | GALTGalectin Therapeu… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.00 | $4.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.00 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AKBA leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 2 categories are tied.
Best OverallAkebia Therapeutics, Inc. (AKBA)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
GALT vs AKBA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GALT or AKBA a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
(GALT) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — GALT or AKBA?
Over the past 5 years, Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
(GALT) delivered a total return of -38. 9%, compared to -50. 8% for Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (AKBA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GALT returned +80. 0% versus AKBA's -82. 3%. 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 — GALT or AKBA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
(GALT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 70β versus Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning AKBA is approximately 62% more volatile than GALT relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — GALT or AKBA?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
grew EPS 93. 9% year-over-year, compared to -2. 7% for Galectin 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 — GALT or AKBA?
Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
(GALT) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -2. 3% for Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AKBA leads at 9. 9% versus 0. 0% for GALT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AKBA leads at 83. 3%, 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 — GALT or AKBA?
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 GALT or AKBA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Galectin Therapeutics Inc.
(GALT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 70)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GALT: +80. 0%, AKBA: -82. 3%), 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 GALT and AKBA?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: GALT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AKBA is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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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