Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) vs Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  LGND | 27.3% revenue growth vs REGN's 1.0% |
| Value |  REGN | Lower P/E (17.4x vs 24.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | REGN | 31.4% net margin vs LGND's 19.3% |
| Stability / Safety | REGN | Beta 0.58 vs LGND's 0.82 |
| Dividends | REGN | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; LGND pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LGND | +81.1% vs REGN's +15.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | REGN | 11.1% ROA vs LGND's 3.3%, ROIC 12.4% vs -2.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
LGNDDividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.82
Growth exposure
LGNDRev growth 27.3%, EPS growth -107.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -11.6%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
LGND104.3% 10Y total return vs REGN's 94.0%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
LGNDLower volatility, beta 0.82, Low D/E 0.9%, current ratio 8.93x
Defensive / Recession hedge
REGNBeta 0.58, yield 0.4%, current ratio 4.77x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Ligand Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and acquires drug discovery technologies and royalty-bearing assets for pharmaceutical partners. It generates revenue primarily through royalties from partnered drug sales — including blockbusters like Kyprolis and Veklury — supplemented by milestone payments and contract research services. Its key competitive advantage lies in its diversified portfolio of royalty streams and its Captisol drug formulation technology, which creates multiple revenue sources from single platform innovations.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative medicines for serious diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its flagship products — EYLEA for eye diseases (~60% of revenue) and Dupixent for inflammatory conditions (~30%) — with additional income from collaborations and royalties. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary VelocImmune technology platform for creating human antibodies and its deep expertise in genetic research, which enables rapid drug discovery and development.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
REGN 3LGND 1REGN4/6 metricsREGN5/6 metricsREGN7/9 metricsLGND5/6 metricsREGN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). LGND leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
REGN is the larger business by revenue, generating $14.3B annually — 57.1x LGND's $251M. REGN is the more profitable business, keeping 31.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LGND's 19.3%. On growth, LGND holds the edge at +122.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $251M | $14.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $52M | $4.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $49M | $4.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $31M | $3.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.9% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +25.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.3% | +31.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +22.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +122.8% | +2.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.6% | -2.5% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, REGN's 21.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LGND's 319.9x.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.1B | $108.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $92.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -949.77x | 18.99x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 24.61x | 17.38x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.00x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 319.95x | 21.83x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 24.57x | 7.55x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.60x | 2.74x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 53.06x | 26.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
REGN delivers a 14.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $14 in annual profit, vs $5 for LGND. LGND carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to REGN's 0.09x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), REGN scores 7/9 vs LGND's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +14.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +11.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.3% | +12.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.7% | +10.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 0.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$65M | -$16.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $72M | $18.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7M | $2.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 22.69x | 120.42x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in REGN five years ago would be worth $17,161 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,470 for LGND. Over the past 12 months, LGND leads with a +81.1% total return vs REGN's +15.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LGND at 43.0% vs REGN's 0.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.9% | +1.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +81.1% | +15.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +192.2% | +1.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +44.7% | +71.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +104.3% | +94.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +43.0% | +0.5% |
Risk & Volatility
REGN is the less volatile stock with a 0.58 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LGND's 0.82 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.58x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $212.49 | $821.11 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.58 | $476.49 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.3% | +95.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.3 | 47.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 198K | 762K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LGND as "Buy" and REGN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 18.7% upside for LGND (target: $248) vs 8.8% for REGN (target: $857). REGN is the only dividend payer here at 0.43% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $248.00 | $857.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 48 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.41 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 100 | 189.96 | +90.0% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 100 | 161.99 | +62.0% |
Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) returned +72% over 5 years vs Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND)'s +45%. A $10,000 investment in REGN 5 years ago would be worth $17,161 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | $109M | $167M | +53.4% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | $4.9B | $14.3B | +195.1% |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.9B (2016) to $14.3B (2025) — a 12.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | -1.5% | -2.4% | -60.7% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 18.4% | 31.4% | +70.5% |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from 18% (2016) to 31% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 258.4 | 24.3 | -90.6% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 36.4 | 18.6 | -48.9% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has traded in a 3x–258x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-950x. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has traded in a 9x–36x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | -0.08 | -0.22 | -180.3% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 7.7 | 41.48 | +438.7% |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.70 (2016) to $41.48 (2025) — a 21% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $77M FCF in 2024 (+11% vs 2021). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (-38% vs 2021).
LGND vs REGN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGND or REGN a better buy right now?
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) offers the better valuation at 19.0x trailing P/E (17.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 has the better valuation — LGND or REGN?
On forward P/E, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LGND or REGN?
Over the past 5 years, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) delivered a total return of +71.6%, compared to +44.7% for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND). A $10,000 investment in REGN five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LGND returned +104.3% versus REGN's +94.0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LGND or REGN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.58β versus Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's 0.82β — meaning LGND is approximately 42% more volatile than REGN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 9% for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — LGND or REGN?
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) is the more profitable company, earning 31.4% net margin versus -2.4% for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — meaning it keeps 31.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: REGN leads at 25.7% versus -13.5% for LGND. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LGND leads at 93.4%, 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.
06Is LGND or REGN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) trades at 17.4x forward P/E versus 24.6x for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — 7.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LGND: 18.7% to $248.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — LGND or REGN?
In this comparison, REGN (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. LGND does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is LGND or REGN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.58)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (REGN: +94.0%, LGND: +104.3%), 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.
09What are the main differences between LGND and REGN?
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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