LENZ
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$278M
5Y Perf.-93.3%
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Stock Comparison
LENZ vs KALA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
KALA
KALA BIO, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$618K
5Y Perf.-100.0%
LENZ vs KALA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LENZ | KALA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $278M | $618K |
| Revenue (TTM) | $19M | $254K |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-82M | $-36M |
| Gross Margin | 97.2% | -3.1% |
| Operating Margin | -477.5% | -150.6% |
| Total Debt | $350K | $32M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $25M | $51M |
LENZ vs KALA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LENZ
KALA
| Stock | Jun 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LENZ Therapeutics, … (LENZ) | 100 | 6.7 | -93.3% |
| KALA BIO, Inc. (KALA) | 100 | 0.0 | -100.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LENZ vs KALA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: LENZ leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. KALA BIO, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LENZ
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
The Income Pick
LENZ carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 1.78
- -72.4% 10Y total return vs KALA's -100.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.78, Low D/E 0.1%, current ratio 13.80x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
KALA
KALA BIO, Inc.
The Growth Play
KALA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 262.9%, EPS growth 59.8%
- 262.9% revenue growth vs LENZ's -71.5%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | KALA | 262.9% revenue growth vs LENZ's -71.5% |
| Quality / Margins | LENZ | -430.3% margin vs KALA's -141.1% |
| Stability / Safety | LENZ | Beta 1.78 vs KALA's 2.09, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LENZ | -61.6% vs KALA's -97.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LENZ | -35.1% ROA vs KALA's -143.2% |
LENZ vs KALA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLENZLAGGINGKALA
KALAKALA BIO, Inc.
0leads
LENZLENZ Therapeutics, In…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs KALAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
LENZ4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LENZ7/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
LENZ6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
LENZ2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LENZ leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LENZ is the larger business by revenue, generating $19M annually — 75.1x KALA's $254,000. LENZ is the more profitable business, keeping -4.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KALA's -141.1%.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | KALAKALA BIO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $19M | $254,000 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$91M | -$38M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$82M | -$36M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$70M | -$32M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +97.2% | -3.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -4.8% | -150.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | -141.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.7% | -126.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -152.2% | +44.6% |
LENZ leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — LENZ and KALA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | KALAKALA BIO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $278M | $617,676 |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $253M | -$18M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.41x | -0.01x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 14.56x | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.98x | 0.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — LENZ and KALA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LENZ leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LENZ delivers a -37.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-37 in annual profit, vs $-4 for KALA. LENZ carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to KALA's 2.62x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LENZ scores 5/9 vs KALA's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | KALAKALA BIO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -37.5% | -3.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -35.1% | -143.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -30.7% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -37.2% | -95.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 2.62x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$25M | -$19M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $25M | $51M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $350,000 | $32M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -6.92x |
LENZ leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
LENZ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in LENZ five years ago would be worth $2,757 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3 for KALA. Over the past 12 months, LENZ leads with a -61.6% total return vs KALA's -97.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LENZ at 16.6% vs KALA's -82.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | KALAKALA BIO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -39.3% | -86.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -61.6% | -97.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.4% | -99.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.4% | -100.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.4% | -100.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.6% | -82.6% |
LENZ leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LENZ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LENZ is the less volatile stock with a 1.78 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than KALA's 2.09 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LENZ currently trades 19.3% from its 52-week high vs KALA's 0.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | KALAKALA BIO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.78x | 2.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.40 | $20.60 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.25 | $0.08 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +19.3% | +0.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.5 | 30.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 909K | 9.2M |
LENZ leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LENZ as "Buy" and KALA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21861.5% upside for KALA (target: $18) vs 431.6% for LENZ (target: $52).
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | KALAKALA BIO, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.67 | $18.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 9 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
LENZ leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallLENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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LENZ vs KALA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LENZ or KALA a better buy right now?
Analysts rate LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
(LENZ) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 — LENZ or KALA?
Over the past 5 years, LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
(LENZ) delivered a total return of -72. 4%, compared to -100. 0% for KALA BIO, Inc. (KALA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LENZ returned -72. 4% versus KALA'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 — LENZ or KALA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
(LENZ) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 78β versus KALA BIO, Inc. 's 2. 09β — meaning KALA is approximately 18% more volatile than LENZ relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 3% for KALA BIO, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LENZ or KALA?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: KALA BIO, Inc.
grew EPS 59. 8% year-over-year, compared to -21. 8% for LENZ 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 — LENZ or KALA?
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
(LENZ) is the more profitable company, earning -430. 3% net margin versus -141. 1% for KALA BIO, Inc. — meaning it keeps -430. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LENZ leads at -477. 5% versus -150. 6% for KALA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LENZ leads at 97. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — LENZ or KALA?
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 LENZ or KALA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
(LENZ) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. KALA BIO, Inc. (KALA) carries a higher beta of 2. 09 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LENZ: -72. 4%, KALA: -100. 0%), 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 LENZ and KALA?
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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