AARD
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock
Biotechnology
Market Cap$79M
5Y Perf.-69.4%
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VNDA
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Stock Comparison
AARD vs VNDA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
VNDA
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$361M
5Y Perf.+23.3%
AARD vs VNDA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  AARD |  VNDA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $79M | $361M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $218M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-70M | $-240M |
| Gross Margin | — | 71.1% |
| Operating Margin | — | -73.6% |
| Total Debt | $441K | $13M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $47M | $85M |
AARD vs VNDA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AARD
VNDA
| Stock | Feb 25 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aardvark Therapeuti… (AARD) | 100 | 30.6 | -69.4% |
| Vanda Pharmaceutica… (VNDA) | 100 | 123.3 | +23.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AARD vs VNDA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: VNDA leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇VNDA emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
AARD
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock
The Growth Play
AARD is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night.
- EPS growth -177.9%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.69, Low D/E 0.4%, current ratio 10.61x
- 4.4% margin vs VNDA's -110.0%
Best for: growth exposure and sleep-well-at-night
VNDA
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Income Pick
VNDA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 1.08
- -43.4% 10Y total return vs AARD's -74.6%
- Beta 1.08, current ratio 2.39x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  VNDA | 8.7% revenue growth vs AARD's -150.9% |
| Quality / Margins |  AARD | 4.4% margin vs VNDA's -110.0% |
| Stability / Safety | VNDA | Beta 1.08 vs AARD's 2.69 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VNDA | +33.2% vs AARD's -67.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VNDA | -44.6% ROA vs AARD's -56.3% |
AARD vs VNDA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
AARD vs VNDA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLVNDALAGGINGAARD
AARDAardvark Therapeutics…
0leads
VNDAVanda Pharmaceuticals…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AARDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
VNDA1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
VNDA4/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
VNDA6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
VNDA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VNDA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
VNDA and AARD operate at a comparable scale, with $218M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $218M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$75M | -$150M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$70M | -$240M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$62M | -$127M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +71.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -73.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -110.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -58.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +3.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -130.2% | -64.0% |
VNDA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — AARD and VNDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $79M | $361M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $33M | $288M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.38x | -1.63x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 1.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.74x | 1.10x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — AARD and VNDA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VNDA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VNDA delivers a -61.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-61 in annual profit, vs $-62 for AARD. AARD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VNDA's 0.04x.
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -61.7% | -61.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -56.3% | -44.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -32.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -70.0% | -33.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$47M | -$72M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $47M | $85M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $441,000 | $13M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
VNDA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
VNDA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in VNDA five years ago would be worth $3,180 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,544 for AARD. Over the past 12 months, VNDA leads with a +33.2% total return vs AARD's -67.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VNDA at -2.3% vs AARD's -36.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -72.4% | -26.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -67.8% | +33.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.6% | -6.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.6% | -68.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.6% | -43.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -36.6% | -2.3% |
VNDA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VNDA leads this category, winning 2 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. VNDA currently trades 61.4% 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… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.69x | 1.08x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.94 | $9.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.35 | $4.14 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +20.3% | +61.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 32.8 | 41.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 155K | 1.0M |
VNDA 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 AARD as "Buy" and VNDA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 705.8% upside for AARD (target: $29) vs 133.6% for VNDA (target: $14).
| Metric | AARDAardvark Therapeu… | VNDAVanda Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.33 | $14.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 8 | 19 |
| 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
VNDA leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallVanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VNDA)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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AARD vs VNDA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AARD or VNDA a better buy right now?
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 VNDA?
Over the past 5 years, Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) delivered a total return of -68. 2%, compared to -74. 6% for Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock (AARD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VNDA returned -43. 4% 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 VNDA?
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, Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc. Common Stock (AARD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 4% for Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — AARD or VNDA?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc.
Common Stock grew EPS -177. 9% year-over-year, compared to -1068. 8% for Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.. 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 VNDA?
Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc.
Common Stock (AARD) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -102. 0% for Vanda 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 -70. 0% for VNDA. 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 VNDA?
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 VNDA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 08)). 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 (VNDA: -43. 4%, 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 VNDA?
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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