ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.86B
5Y Perf.-54.6%
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Stock Comparison
ACAD vs BIIB
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BIIB
Biogen Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - General
Market Cap$28.25B
5Y Perf.-37.7%
ACAD vs BIIB — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ACAD | BIIB |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Market Cap | $3.86B | $28.25B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.10B | $9.86B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $376M | $1.37B |
| Gross Margin | 91.5% | 69.8% |
| Operating Margin | 7.4% | 15.6% |
| Forward P/E | 50.9x | 13.0x |
| Total Debt | $52M | $6.95B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $178M | $3.01B |
ACAD vs BIIB — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACAD
BIIB
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACADIA Pharmaceutic… (ACAD) | 100 | 45.4 | -54.6% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 100 | 62.3 | -37.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACAD vs BIIB
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ACAD and BIIB are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Biogen Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Growth Play
ACAD has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 11.9%, EPS growth 68.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.5%
- -22.9% 10Y total return vs BIIB's -29.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.26, Low D/E 4.3%, current ratio 3.83x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
BIIB
Biogen Inc.
The Income Pick
BIIB is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and defensive.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.64
- Beta 0.64, current ratio 2.68x
- Lower P/E (13.0x vs 50.9x)
Best for: income & stability and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACAD | 11.9% revenue growth vs BIIB's 1.4% |
| Value | BIIB | Lower P/E (13.0x vs 50.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACAD | 34.3% margin vs BIIB's 13.9% |
| Stability / Safety | BIIB | Beta 0.64 vs ACAD's 1.26 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BIIB | +63.3% vs ACAD's +52.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACAD | 26.2% ROA vs BIIB's 4.7%, ROIC 10.0% vs 6.5% |
ACAD vs BIIB — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2018
FY 2025
ACAD vs BIIB — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLACADLAGGINGBIIB
BIIBBiogen Inc.
2leads
ACADACADIA Pharmaceutical…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BIIBMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BIIB5/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ACAD8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ACAD4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
BIIB2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ACAD and BIIB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BIIB is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.9B annually — 9.0x ACAD's $1.1B. ACAD is the more profitable business, keeping 34.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BIIB's 13.9%. On growth, ACAD holds the edge at +9.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $9.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $96M | $2.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $376M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $212M | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +91.5% | +69.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +15.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +34.3% | +13.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +19.4% | +26.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.7% | +1.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -81.8% | +31.1% |
Evenly matched — ACAD and BIIB each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BIIB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.9x trailing earnings, ACAD trades at a 55% valuation discount to BIIB's 21.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BIIB's 11.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ACAD's 26.9x.
| Metric | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.9B | $28.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.7B | $32.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.85x | 21.67x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 50.91x | 13.05x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.91x | 11.45x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.61x | 2.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.15x | 1.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 36.74x | 13.78x |
BIIB leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD delivers a 35.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $36 in annual profit, vs $8 for BIIB. ACAD carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BIIB's 0.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACAD scores 6/9 vs BIIB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +35.6% | +7.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +26.2% | +4.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.0% | +6.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.1% | +7.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.04x | 0.38x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$126M | $3.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $178M | $3.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $52M | $6.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 6.91x |
ACAD leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ACAD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACAD five years ago would be worth $10,710 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,984 for BIIB. Over the past 12 months, BIIB leads with a +63.3% total return vs ACAD's +52.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACAD at 1.5% vs BIIB's -15.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.7% | +7.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +52.4% | +63.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.7% | -39.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.1% | -30.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.9% | -29.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.5% | -15.2% |
ACAD leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BIIB leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BIIB is the less volatile stock with a 0.64 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. BIIB currently trades 94.6% from its 52-week high vs ACAD's 81.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.26x | 0.64x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $27.81 | $202.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.45 | $115.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.1% | +94.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.2 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 1.0M |
BIIB 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 ACAD as "Buy" and BIIB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 54.1% upside for ACAD (target: $35) vs 10.5% for BIIB (target: $211).
| Metric | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $34.78 | $211.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 37 | 48 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
BIIB leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). ACAD leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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ACAD vs BIIB: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACAD or BIIB a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the stronger pick with 11. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 4% for Biogen Inc. (BIIB). ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) offers the better valuation at 9. 9x trailing P/E (50. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) a "Buy" — based on 37 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 — ACAD or BIIB?
On trailing P/E, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the cheapest at 9. 9x versus Biogen Inc. at 21. 7x. On forward P/E, Biogen Inc. is actually cheaper at 13. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACAD or BIIB?
Over the past 5 years, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) delivered a total return of +7. 1%, compared to -30. 2% for Biogen Inc. (BIIB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACAD returned -22. 9% versus BIIB's -29. 2%. 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 — ACAD or BIIB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Biogen Inc.
(BIIB) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 64β versus ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. 's 1. 26β — meaning ACAD is approximately 97% more volatile than BIIB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 38% for Biogen Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACAD or BIIB?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is pulling ahead at 11. 9% versus 1. 4% for Biogen Inc. (BIIB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. grew EPS 68. 4% year-over-year, compared to -21. 1% for Biogen Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACAD leads at 27. 5% 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 — ACAD or BIIB?
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 5% net margin versus 13. 2% for Biogen Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BIIB leads at 19. 1% versus 9. 8% for ACAD. 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 ACAD or BIIB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Biogen Inc.
(BIIB) trades at 13. 0x forward P/E versus 50. 9x for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. — 37. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACAD: 54. 1% to $34. 78.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACAD or BIIB?
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 ACAD or BIIB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Biogen Inc.
(BIIB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 64)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BIIB: -29. 2%, 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 ACAD and BIIB?
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: ACAD is a small-cap deep-value stock; BIIB is a mid-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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Revenue Growth>
%
(ACAD: 9.7% · BIIB: 1.9%)Net Margin>
%
(ACAD: 34.3% · BIIB: 13.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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