HEPA
Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$697K
5Y Perf.-100.0%
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Stock Comparison
HEPA vs AKRO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AKRO
Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$4.50B
5Y Perf.+113.8%
HEPA vs AKRO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | HEPA | AKRO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $697K | $4.50B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-8M | $-293M |
| Total Debt | $54K | $36M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2M | $340M |
HEPA vs AKRO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HEPA
AKRO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hepion Pharmaceutic… (HEPA) | 100 | 0.0 | -100.0% |
| Akero Therapeutics,… (AKRO) | 100 | 213.8 | +113.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HEPA vs AKRO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HEPA and AKRO are tied at the top with 2 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Akero Therapeutics, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HEPA
Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Growth Play
HEPA has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- EPS growth 99.2%
- Lower volatility, beta -0.69, Low D/E 2.0%, current ratio 10.25x
- 100.0% revenue growth vs AKRO's -24.6%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
AKRO
Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
AKRO is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and defensive.
- 198.3% 10Y total return vs HEPA's -100.0%
- Beta 0.35, current ratio 19.38x
- +27.7% vs HEPA's -84.6%
Best for: long-term compounding and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HEPA | 100.0% revenue growth vs AKRO's -24.6% |
| Stability / Safety | HEPA | Lower D/E ratio (2.0% vs 4.9%) |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AKRO | +27.7% vs HEPA's -84.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AKRO | -29.1% ROA vs HEPA's -187.8%, ROIC -55.3% vs -409.9% |
HEPA vs AKRO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAKROLAGGINGHEPA
HEPAHepion Pharmaceutical…
1leads
AKROAkero Therapeutics, I…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HEPAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HEPA1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AKRO5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AKRO5/5
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HEPA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HEPA and AKRO operate at a comparable scale, with $0 and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | HEPAHepion Pharmaceut… | AKROAkero Therapeutic… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$9M | -$318M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$8M | -$293M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$3M | -$250M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +112.6% | +5.7% |
HEPA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — HEPA and AKRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HEPAHepion Pharmaceut… | AKROAkero Therapeutic… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $697,219 | $4.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$1M | $4.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.07x | -14.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.21x | 4.89x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — HEPA and AKRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AKRO leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AKRO delivers a -30.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-31 in annual profit, vs $-2 for HEPA. HEPA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AKRO's 0.05x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HEPA scores 3/9 vs AKRO's 2/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | HEPAHepion Pharmaceut… | AKROAkero Therapeutic… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.4% | -30.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -187.8% | -29.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -4.1% | -55.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -6.7% | -42.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.02x | 0.05x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$2M | -$304M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2M | $340M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $54,066 | $36M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -62.41x |
AKRO leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AKRO leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AKRO five years ago would be worth $19,996 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $0 for HEPA. Over the past 12 months, AKRO leads with a +27.7% total return vs HEPA's -84.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AKRO at 6.3% vs HEPA's -95.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HEPAHepion Pharmaceut… | AKROAkero Therapeutic… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | 0.0% | — |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -84.6% | +27.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | +20.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | +100.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | +198.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -95.5% | +6.3% |
AKRO leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — HEPA and AKRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HEPA is the less volatile stock with a -0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AKRO's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AKRO currently trades 95.3% from its 52-week high vs HEPA's 12.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HEPAHepion Pharmaceut… | AKROAkero Therapeutic… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.69x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $0.49 | $57.35 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.03 | $37.28 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +12.2% | +95.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.6 | 70.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 11K | 0 |
Evenly matched — HEPA and AKRO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | HEPAHepion Pharmaceut… | AKROAkero Therapeutic… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $48.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 14 |
| 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
AKRO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). HEPA leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
Best OverallAkero Therapeutics, Inc. (AKRO)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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HEPA vs AKRO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HEPA or AKRO a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
(AKRO) a "Buy" — based on 14 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 — HEPA or AKRO?
Over the past 5 years, Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
(AKRO) delivered a total return of +100. 0%, compared to -100. 0% for Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HEPA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AKRO returned +198. 3% versus HEPA's -100. 0%. 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 — HEPA or AKRO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(HEPA) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 69β versus Akero Therapeutics, Inc. 's 0. 35β — meaning AKRO is approximately -151% more volatile than HEPA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (HEPA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 5% for Akero Therapeutics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — HEPA or AKRO?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
grew EPS 99. 2% year-over-year, compared to -29. 8% for Akero 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 — HEPA or AKRO?
Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(HEPA) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Akero Therapeutics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HEPA leads at 0. 0% versus 0. 0% for AKRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HEPA leads at 0. 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 — HEPA or AKRO?
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 HEPA or AKRO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(HEPA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 69)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HEPA: -100. 0%, AKRO: +198. 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 HEPA and AKRO?
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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