QGEN vs EXAS

For growth investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger pick with 17.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 7% for Qiagen N. V. (QGEN). Qiagen N. V. (QGEN) offers the better valuation at 16. 9x trailing P/E (13. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) a "Buy" — based on 41 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.

On forward P/E, Qiagen N.

V. is actually cheaper at 13. 8x.

Over the past 5 years, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) delivered a total return of -2.

9%, compared to -21. 6% for Qiagen N. V. (QGEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXAS returned +1672% versus QGEN's +70. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

12β versus Qiagen N. V. 's 0. 42β — meaning QGEN is approximately 246% more volatile than EXAS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Qiagen N. V. (QGEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 44% versus 105% for Exact Sciences Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is pulling ahead at 17.

7% versus 5. 7% for Qiagen N. V. (QGEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Qiagen N. V. grew EPS 436. 8% year-over-year, compared to 80. 3% for Exact Sciences Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXAS leads at 15. 9% 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.

Qiagen N.

V. (QGEN) is the more profitable company, earning 20. 3% net margin versus -6. 4% for Exact Sciences Corporation — meaning it keeps 20. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QGEN leads at 24. 9% versus -6. 4% for EXAS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXAS leads at 69. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Qiagen N.

V. (QGEN) trades at 13. 8x forward P/E versus 582. 8x for Exact Sciences Corporation — 569. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for QGEN: 37. 8% to $47. 50.

In this comparison, QGEN (0.

8% yield) pays a dividend. EXAS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

12), +1672% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXAS: +1672%, QGEN: +70. 4%), 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.

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: QGEN is a small-cap deep-value stock; EXAS is a mid-cap high-growth stock. QGEN pays a dividend while EXAS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.