Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) vs Alkermes plc (ALKS) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ADMA | 65.2% revenue growth vs ALKS's -5.2% |
| Value | ADMA | Lower P/E (16.3x vs 32.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | ADMA | 42.9% net margin vs ALKS's 16.4% |
| Stability / Safety | ALKS | Beta 0.61 vs ADMA's 1.10, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ADMA | -5.0% vs ALKS's -12.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ADMA | 36.8% ROA vs ALKS's 9.7%, ROIC 37.7% vs 14.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
ADMA Biologics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and markets specialty plasma-derived biologics for treating immune deficiencies and infectious diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its intravenous immune globulin products — BIVIGAM and ASCENIV — along with its Hepatitis B treatment Nabi-HB, while also operating plasma collection facilities. The company's key advantage is its integrated business model that combines plasma collection, manufacturing, and commercialization, creating a vertically controlled supply chain for plasma-derived therapies.
Alkermes is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes medicines for central nervous system disorders and other serious conditions. It generates revenue primarily from product sales of its proprietary drugs like VIVITROL and ARISTADA — which treat addiction and schizophrenia — along with royalties from partnered products and manufacturing services. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized drug delivery technologies that enable long-acting injectable formulations, creating significant barriers to entry for competitors.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ADMA leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ALKS leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ALKS is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 3.0x ADMA's $489M. ADMA is the more profitable business, keeping 42.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALKS's 16.4%. On growth, ADMA holds the edge at +12.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ADMAADMA Biologics, I… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $489M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $175M | $281M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $209M | $242M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $41M | $520,800 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +54.7% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +34.2% | +17.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +42.9% | +16.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +0.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.0% | -10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | -67.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 19.2x trailing earnings, ADMA trades at a 9% valuation discount to ALKS's 21.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ALKS's 15.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ADMA's 25.1x.
| Metric | ADMAADMA Biologics, I… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.7B | $5.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.7B | $4.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 19.22x | 21.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.30x | 32.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 25.10x | 15.89x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 8.70x | 3.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 10.86x | 2.79x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 33.71x | 9571.39x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ADMA delivers a 48.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $49 in annual profit, vs $13 for ALKS. ALKS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ADMA's 0.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ADMA scores 7/9 vs ALKS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ADMAADMA Biologics, I… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +48.6% | +13.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +36.8% | +9.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +37.7% | +14.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +39.0% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.24x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$21M | -$518M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $103M | $588M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $82M | $70M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 19.63x | 23.55x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ADMA five years ago would be worth $64,339 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,677 for ALKS. Over the past 12 months, ADMA leads with a -5.0% total return vs ALKS's -12.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ADMA at 63.7% vs ALKS's 4.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ADMAADMA Biologics, I… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -12.9% | +6.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -5.0% | -12.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +338.6% | +12.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +543.4% | +56.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +227.8% | -6.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +63.7% | +4.0% |
Risk & Volatility
ALKS is the less volatile stock with a 0.61 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ADMA's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ALKS currently trades 82.9% from its 52-week high vs ADMA's 60.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ADMAADMA Biologics, I… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.10x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $25.67 | $36.32 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $13.50 | $25.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +60.7% | +82.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 35.7 | 39.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ADMA as "Buy" and ALKS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 52.8% upside for ALKS (target: $46) vs 2.8% for ADMA (target: $16).
| Metric | ADMAADMA Biologics, I… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $16.00 | $46.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) | 100 | 589.23 | +489.2% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | 100 | 164.6 | +64.6% |
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) returned +543% over 5 years vs Alkermes plc (ALKS)'s +57%. A $10,000 investment in ADMA 5 years ago would be worth $64,339 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) | $11M | $426M | +3900.1% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | $746M | $1.5B | +97.9% |
Alkermes plc's revenue grew from $746M (2016) to $1.5B (2025) — a 7.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) | -183.1% | 46.4% | +125.3% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | -28.0% | 16.4% | +158.6% |
Alkermes plc's net margin went from -28% (2016) to 16% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 3 Years
| Stock | 2023 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | 13.2 | 19.6 | +48.5% |
Alkermes plc has traded in a 13x–20x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) | -1.61 | 0.81 | +150.3% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | -1.38 | 1.43 | +203.6% |
Alkermes plc's EPS grew from $-1.38 (2016) to $1.43 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
ADMA Biologics, Inc. generated $110M FCF in 2024 (+187% vs 2021). Alkermes plc generated $1M FCF in 2025 (-99% vs 2021).
ADMA vs ALKS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ADMA or ALKS a better buy right now?
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) offers the better valuation at 19.2x trailing P/E (16.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — ADMA or ALKS?
On trailing P/E, ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) is the cheapest at 19.2x versus Alkermes plc at 21.0x. On forward P/E, ADMA Biologics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 16.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ADMA or ALKS?
Over the past 5 years, ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) delivered a total return of +543.4%, compared to +56.8% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). A $10,000 investment in ADMA five years ago would be worth approximately $64K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ADMA returned +227.8% versus ALKS's -6.7%. 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 — ADMA or ALKS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.61β versus ADMA Biologics, Inc.'s 1.10β — meaning ADMA is approximately 81% more volatile than ALKS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alkermes plc (ALKS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 24% for ADMA Biologics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ADMA or ALKS?
ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) is the more profitable company, earning 46.4% net margin versus 16.4% for Alkermes plc — meaning it keeps 46.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ADMA leads at 32.6% versus 17.2% for ALKS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALKS leads at 86.3%, 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.
06Is ADMA or ALKS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, ADMA Biologics, Inc. (ADMA) trades at 16.3x forward P/E versus 32.0x for Alkermes plc — 15.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ALKS: 52.8% to $46.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ADMA or ALKS?
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.
08Is ADMA or ALKS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.61)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALKS: -6.7%, ADMA: +227.8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between ADMA and ALKS?
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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