ALKS vs INTR

For growth investors, Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is the stronger pick with 27. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). Inter & Co, Inc. (INTR) offers the better valuation at 18. 7x trailing P/E (1. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alkermes plc (ALKS) a "Buy" — based on 28 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.

On trailing P/E, Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is the cheapest at 18. 7x versus Alkermes plc at 24. 7x.

Over the past 5 years, Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) delivered a total return of +131. 7%, compared to +60. 5% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INTR returned +131. 7% versus ALKS's -7. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

06β versus Inter & Co, Inc. 's 1. 39β — meaning INTR is approximately 32% 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 131% for Inter & Co, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Inter & Co, Inc.

(INTR) is pulling ahead at 27. 1% versus -5. 2% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Inter & Co, Inc. grew EPS 176. 0% year-over-year, compared to -34. 1% for Alkermes plc. 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.

Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

4% net margin versus 9. 3% for Inter & Co, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALKS leads at 17. 2% versus 12. 4% for INTR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALKS leads at 86. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for INTR: 53.

1% to $12. 00.

In this comparison, INTR (0.

4% yield) pays a dividend. ALKS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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 1.

06)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALKS: -7. 7%, INTR: +131. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (ALKS (Healthcare) and INTR (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: ALKS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; INTR is a small-cap high-growth 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.