ZVRA
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$665M
5Y Perf.+265.7%
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Stock Comparison
ZVRA vs ACAD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.68B
5Y Perf.-54.6%
ZVRA vs ACAD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ZVRA | ACAD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $665M | $3.68B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $106M | $1.07B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $83M | $391M |
| Gross Margin | 84.2% | 91.7% |
| Operating Margin | -59.1% | 9.8% |
| Forward P/E | 22.6x | 50.9x |
| Total Debt | $63M | $52M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $62M | $178M |
ZVRA vs ACAD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ZVRA
ACAD
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zevra Therapeutics,… (ZVRA) | 100 | 365.7 | +265.7% |
| ACADIA Pharmaceutic… (ACAD) | 100 | 45.4 | -54.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ZVRA vs ACAD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ZVRA leads in 6 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ZVRA
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
The Income Pick
ZVRA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.63
- Rev growth 350.9%, EPS growth 159.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 118.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.63, Low D/E 40.9%, current ratio 5.68x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
ACAD is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- -22.3% 10Y total return vs ZVRA's -89.8%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ZVRA | 350.9% revenue growth vs ACAD's 11.9% |
| Value | ZVRA | Lower P/E (22.6x vs 50.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | ZVRA | 78.2% margin vs ACAD's 36.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ZVRA | Beta 0.63 vs ACAD's 1.26 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ZVRA | +52.0% vs ACAD's +47.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ZVRA | 33.8% ROA vs ACAD's 29.8%, ROIC -2.9% vs 10.0% |
ZVRA vs ACAD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2023
FY 2018
ZVRA vs ACAD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLZVRALAGGINGACAD
ACADACADIA Pharmaceutical…
1leads
ZVRAZevra Therapeutics, I…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACADMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ACAD5/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ZVRA5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ZVRA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ZVRA and ACAD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACAD is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.1B annually — 10.1x ZVRA's $106M. ZVRA is the more profitable business, keeping 78.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACAD's 36.5%. On growth, ZVRA holds the edge at +183.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ZVRAZevra Therapeutic… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $106M | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$59M | $123M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $83M | $391M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$2M | $105M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +84.2% | +91.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -59.1% | +9.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +78.2% | +36.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.3% | +9.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +183.4% | +9.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +129.9% | +86.0% |
Evenly matched — ZVRA and ACAD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ZVRA and ACAD each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 8.3x trailing earnings, ZVRA trades at a 11% valuation discount to ACAD's 9.4x P/E.
| Metric | ZVRAZevra Therapeutic… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $665M | $3.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $666M | $3.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.33x | 9.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.60x | 50.91x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 25.57x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.25x | 3.43x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.17x | 3.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 34.98x |
Evenly matched — ZVRA and ACAD each lead in 2 of 4 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ZVRA delivers a 74.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $75 in annual profit, vs $42 for ACAD. ACAD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ZVRA's 0.41x.
| Metric | ZVRAZevra Therapeutic… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +74.6% | +41.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +33.8% | +29.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.9% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.2% | +10.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.41x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $800,000 | -$126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $62M | $178M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $63M | $52M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 11.87x | — |
ACAD leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ZVRA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ZVRA five years ago would be worth $12,726 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,253 for ACAD. Over the past 12 months, ZVRA leads with a +52.0% total return vs ACAD's +47.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ZVRA at 31.7% vs ACAD's -0.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ZVRAZevra Therapeutic… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +34.9% | -17.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.0% | +47.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +128.7% | -0.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.3% | +2.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -89.8% | -22.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +31.7% | -0.1% |
ZVRA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ZVRA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ZVRA is the less volatile stock with a 0.63 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACAD's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ZVRA currently trades 85.5% from its 52-week high vs ACAD's 77.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ZVRAZevra Therapeutic… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.63x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $13.16 | $27.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $7.16 | $14.45 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.5% | +77.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 60.9 | 52.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 1.7M |
ZVRA 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 ZVRA as "Buy" and ACAD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 115.6% upside for ZVRA (target: $24) vs 61.9% for ACAD (target: $35).
| Metric | ZVRAZevra Therapeutic… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $24.25 | $34.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 37 |
| 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
ZVRA leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). ACAD leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallZevra Therapeutics, Inc. (ZVRA)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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ZVRA vs ACAD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ZVRA or ACAD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) is the stronger pick with 350. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 9% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD). Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (ZVRA) offers the better valuation at 8. 3x trailing P/E (22. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. (ZVRA) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 — ZVRA or ACAD?
On trailing P/E, Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) is the cheapest at 8. 3x versus ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 9. 4x. On forward P/E, Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ZVRA or ACAD?
Over the past 5 years, Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) delivered a total return of +27. 3%, compared to +2. 5% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACAD returned -22. 9% versus ZVRA's -90. 9%. 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 — ZVRA or ACAD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 63β versus ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. 's 1. 26β — meaning ACAD is approximately 99% more volatile than ZVRA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 41% for Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ZVRA or ACAD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) is pulling ahead at 350. 9% versus 11. 9% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Zevra Therapeutics, Inc. grew EPS 159. 2% year-over-year, compared to 68. 4% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZVRA leads at 118. 8% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — ZVRA or ACAD?
Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) is the more profitable company, earning 78. 2% net margin versus 36. 5% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. — meaning it keeps 78. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACAD leads at 9. 8% versus -4. 0% for ZVRA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACAD leads at 91. 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.
07Is ZVRA or ACAD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) trades at 22. 6x forward P/E versus 50. 9x for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. — 28. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ZVRA: 115. 6% to $24. 25.
08Which pays a better dividend — ZVRA or ACAD?
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.
09Is ZVRA or ACAD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Zevra Therapeutics, Inc.
(ZVRA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 63)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ZVRA: -90. 9%, ACAD: -22. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between ZVRA and ACAD?
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: ZVRA is a small-cap high-growth stock; ACAD is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ZVRA: 183.4% · ACAD: 9.4%)Net Margin>
%
(ZVRA: 78.2% · ACAD: 36.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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