AARD
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock
Biotechnology
Market Cap$79M
5Y Perf.-69.4%
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Side-by-side financial analysisAARD
RYTM
VNDA
VKTX
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Stock Comparison
AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RYTM
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$6.01B
5Y Perf.+61.0%
VNDA
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$361M
5Y Perf.+23.3%
VKTX
Viking Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.32B
5Y Perf.-0.4%
AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  AARD |  RYTM |  VNDA |  VKTX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $79M | $6.01B | $361M | $3.32B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $217M | $218M | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-70M | $-204M | $-240M | $-472M |
| Gross Margin | — | 89.4% | 71.1% | — |
| Operating Margin | — | -90.9% | -73.6% | — |
| Total Debt | $441K | $246M | $13M | $137K |
| Cash & Equiv. | $47M | $54M | $85M | $166M |
AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AARD
RYTM
VNDA
VKTX
| Stock | Feb 25 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aardvark Therapeuti… (AARD) | 100 | 30.6 | -69.4% |
| Rhythm Pharmaceutic… (RYTM) | 100 | 161.0 | +61.0% |
| Vanda Pharmaceutica… (VNDA) | 100 | 123.3 | +23.3% |
| Viking Therapeutics… (VKTX) | 100 | 99.6 | -0.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RYTM and VNDA are tied at the top with 2 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and operational efficiency and capital deployment. VKTX also leads in specific categories worth noting. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AARD
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock
The Secondary Option
AARD lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
Best for: healthcare exposure
RYTM
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Growth Play
RYTM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 45.8%, EPS growth 28.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 100.2%
- 45.8% revenue growth vs VKTX's -270.1%
- +35.2% vs AARD's -67.8%
Best for: growth exposure
VNDA
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Income Pick
VNDA is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability and sleep-well-at-night is your priority.
- beta 1.08
- Lower volatility, beta 1.08, Low D/E 3.9%, current ratio 2.39x
- Beta 1.08, current ratio 2.39x
- Beta 1.08 vs AARD's 2.69
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
VKTX
Viking Therapeutics, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
VKTX is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 21.9% 10Y total return vs RYTM's 192.2%
- 4.7% margin vs VNDA's -110.0%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  RYTM | 45.8% revenue growth vs VKTX's -270.1% |
| Quality / Margins |  VKTX | 4.7% margin vs VNDA's -110.0% |
| Stability / Safety |  VNDA | Beta 1.08 vs AARD's 2.69 |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 4 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | RYTM | +35.2% vs AARD's -67.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VNDA | -44.6% ROA vs VKTX's -65.3%, ROIC -32.2% vs -44.4% |
AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
FY 2025
Segment breakdown not available.
AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRYTMLAGGINGVKTX
Who Leads Where
RYTM leads in 2 of 6 categories
VNDA leads 1 • AARD leads 0 • VKTX leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓VKTXViking Therapeutics, …
0leads
AARDAardvark Therapeutics…
0leads
VNDAVanda Pharmaceuticals…
1leads
RYTMRhythm Pharmaceutical…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VNDAvs AARDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RYTM5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
VNDA4/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RYTM4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RYTM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VNDA and VKTX operate at a comparable scale, with $218M and $0 in trailing revenue. RYTM is the more profitable business, keeping -93.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VNDA's -110.0%. On growth, RYTM holds the edge at +83.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric |  AARDAardvark Therapeu… | RYTMRhythm Pharmaceut… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… | VKTXViking Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $217M | $218M | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$75M | -$196M | -$150M | -$502M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$70M | -$204M | -$240M | -$472M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$62M | -$76M | -$127M | -$340M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +89.4% | +71.1% | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -90.9% | -73.6% | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -93.8% | -110.0% | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -35.1% | -58.5% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +83.8% | +3.4% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -130.2% | -2.5% | -64.0% | -2.3% |
RYTM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — AARD and RYTM and VNDA each lead in 1 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | RYTMRhythm Pharmaceut… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… | VKTXViking Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $79M | $6.0B | $361M | $3.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $33M | $6.2B | $288M | $3.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.38x | -28.19x | -1.63x | -8.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 31.66x | 1.67x | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.74x | 40.96x | 1.10x | 5.04x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | — |
Evenly matched — AARD and RYTM and VNDA each lead in 1 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VNDA leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VNDA delivers a -61.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-61 in annual profit, vs $-2 for RYTM. VKTX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RYTM's 1.77x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RYTM scores 5/9 vs VKTX's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | RYTMRhythm Pharmaceut… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… | VKTXViking Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -61.7% | -2.0% | -61.4% | -71.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -56.3% | -45.2% | -44.6% | -65.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -70.1% | -32.2% | -44.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -70.0% | -58.9% | -33.6% | -51.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 1.77x | 0.04x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$47M | $192M | -$72M | -$166M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $47M | $54M | $85M | $166M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $441,000 | $246M | $13M | $137,000 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -12.41x | — | -15687.44x |
VNDA leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RYTM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VKTX five years ago would be worth $47,056 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,544 for AARD. Over the past 12 months, RYTM leads with a +35.2% total return vs AARD's -67.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RYTM at 70.5% vs AARD's -36.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | RYTMRhythm Pharmaceut… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… | VKTXViking Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -72.4% | -16.5% | -26.1% | -19.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -67.8% | +35.2% | +33.2% | -1.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.6% | +395.5% | -6.7% | +20.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.6% | +359.4% | -68.2% | +370.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.6% | +192.2% | -43.4% | +2188.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -36.6% | +70.5% | -2.3% | +6.4% |
RYTM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — RYTM and VNDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VNDA is the less volatile stock with a 1.08 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AARD's 2.69 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RYTM currently trades 71.7% from its 52-week high vs AARD's 20.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | RYTMRhythm Pharmaceut… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… | VKTXViking Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.69x | 1.21x | 1.08x | 1.63x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.94 | $122.20 | $9.94 | $43.15 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.35 | $60.70 | $4.14 | $22.96 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +20.3% | +71.7% | +61.4% | +66.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 32.8 | 45.5 | 41.1 | 36.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 155K | 616K | 1.0M | 2.1M |
Evenly matched — RYTM and VNDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: AARD as "Buy", RYTM as "Buy", VNDA as "Buy", VKTX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 705.8% upside for AARD (target: $29) vs 59.9% for RYTM (target: $140).
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | RYTMRhythm Pharmaceut… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… | VKTXViking Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.33 | $140.20 | $14.25 | $93.60 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 20 | 19 | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
RYTM leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). VNDA leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallRhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (RYTM)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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AARD vs RYTM vs VNDA vs VKTX: Key Questions Answered
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(RYTM) is the stronger pick with 45. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 7% for Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VNDA). Analysts rate Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock (AARD) 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 is the better long-term investment — AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX?
Over the past 5 years, Viking Therapeutics, Inc.
(VKTX) delivered a total return of +370. 6%, compared to -74. 6% for Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock (AARD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VKTX returned +21. 9% versus AARD's -74. 6%. 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 — AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 08β versus Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock's 2. 69β — meaning AARD is approximately 149% more volatile than VNDA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 177% for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(RYTM) is pulling ahead at 45. 8% versus 8. 7% for Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VNDA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. grew EPS 28. 3% year-over-year, compared to -1068. 8% for Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RYTM leads at 100. 2% 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 — AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX?
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc.
Common Stock (AARD) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -103. 6% for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AARD leads at 0. 0% versus -101. 2% for RYTM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VNDA leads at 94. 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 — AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX?
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 AARD or RYTM or VNDA or VKTX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(RYTM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 21), +192. 2% 10Y return). Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock (AARD) carries a higher beta of 2. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RYTM: +192. 2%, AARD: -74. 6%), 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 AARD and RYTM and VNDA and VKTX?
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: AARD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RYTM is a small-cap high-growth stock; VNDA is a small-cap quality compounder stock; VKTX is a small-cap quality compounder 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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