LENZ
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$278M
5Y Perf.-93.3%
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Stock Comparison
LENZ vs NKTR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NKTR
Nektar Therapeutics
Biotechnology
Market Cap$1.69B
5Y Perf.-67.6%
LENZ vs NKTR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | LENZ | NKTR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $278M | $1.69B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $19M | $55M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-82M | $-164M |
| Gross Margin | 97.2% | 99.6% |
| Operating Margin | -477.5% | -237.9% |
| Total Debt | $350K | $149M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $25M | $15M |
LENZ vs NKTR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LENZ
NKTR
| Stock | Jun 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| LENZ Therapeutics, … (LENZ) | 100 | 6.7 | -93.3% |
| Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) | 100 | 32.4 | -67.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LENZ vs NKTR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NKTR leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LENZ
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
The Income Pick
LENZ is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.78
- Lower volatility, beta 1.78, Low D/E 0.1%, current ratio 13.80x
- Beta 1.78, current ratio 13.80x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
NKTR
Nektar Therapeutics
The Growth Play
NKTR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -43.9%, EPS growth -12.1%, 3Y rev CAGR -15.7%
- -59.1% 10Y total return vs LENZ's -72.4%
- -43.9% revenue growth vs LENZ's -71.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NKTR | -43.9% revenue growth vs LENZ's -71.5% |
| Quality / Margins | NKTR | -297.1% margin vs LENZ's -430.3% |
| Stability / Safety | LENZ | Beta 1.78 vs NKTR's 1.85, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NKTR | +8.2% vs LENZ's -61.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LENZ | -35.1% ROA vs NKTR's -62.8%, ROIC -30.7% vs -57.2% |
LENZ vs NKTR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
LENZ vs NKTR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLLENZLAGGINGNKTR
NKTRNektar Therapeutics
2leads
LENZLENZ Therapeutics, In…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NKTRMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NKTR3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LENZ2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
LENZ8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NKTR6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NKTR leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NKTR is the larger business by revenue, generating $55M annually — 2.9x LENZ's $19M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -3.0% (NKTR) to -4.3% (LENZ).
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | NKTRNektar Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $19M | $55M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$91M | -$130M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$82M | -$164M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$70M | -$209M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +97.2% | +99.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -4.8% | -2.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.3% | -3.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.7% | -3.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -25.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -152.2% | -4.5% |
NKTR leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LENZ leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | NKTRNektar Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $278M | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $253M | $1.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -3.41x | -8.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 14.56x | 30.64x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.98x | 15.66x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
LENZ leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
LENZ leads this category, winning 8 of 8 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 NKTR. LENZ carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NKTR's 1.66x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LENZ scores 5/9 vs NKTR's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | NKTRNektar Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -37.5% | -4.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -35.1% | -62.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -30.7% | -57.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -37.2% | -55.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 1.66x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$25M | $134M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $25M | $15M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $350,000 | $149M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -4.74x |
LENZ leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NKTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NKTR five years ago would be worth $2,765 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,757 for LENZ. Over the past 12 months, NKTR leads with a +818.2% total return vs LENZ's -61.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NKTR at 93.3% vs LENZ's 16.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | NKTRNektar Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -39.3% | +92.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -61.6% | +818.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.4% | +621.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.4% | -72.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -72.4% | -59.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.6% | +93.3% |
NKTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LENZ and NKTR each lead in 1 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 NKTR's 1.85 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NKTR currently trades 76.5% from its 52-week high vs LENZ's 19.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | NKTRNektar Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.78x | 1.85x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.40 | $109.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $8.25 | $7.99 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +19.3% | +76.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.5 | 53.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 909K | 991K |
Evenly matched — LENZ and NKTR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LENZ as "Buy" and NKTR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 431.6% upside for LENZ (target: $52) vs 59.3% for NKTR (target: $133).
| Metric | LENZLENZ Therapeutics… | NKTRNektar Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $51.67 | $132.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 33 |
| 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
NKTR leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). LENZ leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Best OverallLENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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LENZ vs NKTR: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LENZ or NKTR 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 NKTR?
Over the past 5 years, Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) delivered a total return of -72.
3%, compared to -72. 4% for LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (LENZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NKTR returned -59. 1% versus LENZ's -72. 4%. 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 NKTR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
(LENZ) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 78β versus Nektar Therapeutics's 1. 85β — meaning NKTR is approximately 4% 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 166% for Nektar Therapeutics — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — LENZ or NKTR?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nektar Therapeutics grew EPS -12.
1% year-over-year, compared to -21. 8% for LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, LENZ leads at 8. 4% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — LENZ or NKTR?
Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) is the more profitable company, earning -297.
1% net margin versus -430. 3% for LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. — meaning it keeps -297. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NKTR leads at -236. 8% versus -477. 5% for LENZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NKTR leads at 100. 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 — LENZ or NKTR?
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 NKTR 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. Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) carries a higher beta of 1. 85 — 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%, NKTR: -59. 1%), 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 NKTR?
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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