Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) vs Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) 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 | BEAM | 120.0% revenue growth vs ALNY's 65.2% |
| Quality / Margins | ALNY | 8.4% net margin vs BEAM's -57.2% |
| Stability / Safety | ALNY | Beta 0.88 vs BEAM's 1.66 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ALNY | +34.9% vs BEAM's +8.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALNY | 6.3% ROA vs BEAM's -5.4%, ROIC 19.1% vs -33.6% |
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
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics for rare genetic diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its approved RNAi drugs — ONPATTRO, GIVLAARI, OXLUMO, and others — targeting conditions like hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, acute hepatic porphyria, and primary hyperoxaluria. The company's key advantage is its pioneering RNAi technology platform and intellectual property estate, which creates a significant barrier to entry in the RNAi therapeutics space.
Beam Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing precision genetic medicines using base editing technology to treat serious diseases. It generates revenue primarily through research collaborations and licensing agreements with pharmaceutical partners — with potential future income from clinical-stage programs targeting sickle cell disease, T-cell cancers, and metabolic disorders. The company's key advantage is its proprietary base editing platform, which enables more precise DNA modifications than traditional CRISPR approaches — potentially offering safer and more effective genetic therapies.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ALNY leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). BEAM leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ALNY is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.7B annually — 26.6x BEAM's $140M. ALNY is the more profitable business, keeping 8.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BEAM's -57.2%. On growth, BEAM holds the edge at +2.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceu… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.7B | $140M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $557M | -$361M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $314M | -$80M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $465M | -$360M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +81.8% | +84.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.5% | -2.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.4% | -57.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.5% | -2.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +84.9% | +2.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.1% | +3.1% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceu… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $44.1B | $2.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $45.4B | $2.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 142.88x | -35.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 48.96x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 81.44x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 11.87x | 20.72x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 56.82x | 2.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 94.70x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ALNY delivers a 39.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $40 in annual profit, vs $-6 for BEAM. BEAM carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ALNY's 3.76x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALNY scores 6/9 vs BEAM's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceu… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +39.8% | -6.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.3% | -5.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.1% | -33.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +15.3% | -33.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.76x | 0.12x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.3B | -$141M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.7B | $295M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.0B | $154M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.20x | -9.14x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ALNY five years ago would be worth $22,381 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,978 for BEAM. Over the past 12 months, ALNY leads with a +34.9% total return vs BEAM's +8.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALNY at 20.3% vs BEAM's -10.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceu… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -16.8% | +4.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +34.9% | +8.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.9% | -29.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +123.8% | -70.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +468.4% | +51.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +20.3% | -10.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ALNY is the less volatile stock with a 0.88 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEAM's 1.66 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEAM currently trades 78.1% from its 52-week high vs ALNY's 67.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceu… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.88x | 1.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $495.55 | $36.44 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $205.87 | $13.53 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.2% | +78.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.8 | 51.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.2M | 1.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ALNY as "Buy" and BEAM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 43.6% upside for BEAM (target: $41) vs 38.5% for ALNY (target: $461).
| Metric | ALNYAlnylam Pharmaceu… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $461.06 | $40.86 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 51 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnylam Pharmaceuti… (ALNY) | 100 | 295.44 | +195.4% |
| Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM) | 100 | 121.29 | +21.3% |
Alnylam Pharmaceuti… (ALNY) returned +124% over 5 years vs Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM)'s -70%. A $10,000 investment in ALNY 5 years ago would be worth $22,381 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnylam Pharmaceuti… (ALNY) | $47M | $3.7B | +7775.4% |
| Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM) | $0.00 | $140M | — |
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $47M (2016) to $3.7B (2025) — a 62.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnylam Pharmaceuti… (ALNY) | -8.7% | 8.4% | +197.1% |
| Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM) | -4351.4% | -57.2% | +98.7% |
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -9% (2016) to 8% (2025).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alnylam Pharmaceuti… (ALNY) | -4.79 | 2.33 | +148.6% |
| Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM) | -0.62 | -0.81 | -30.6% |
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-4.79 (2016) to $2.33 (2025).
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $465M FCF in 2025 (+165% vs 2021). Beam Therapeutics Inc. generated $-360M FCF in 2025 (-218% vs 2021).
ALNY vs BEAM: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALNY or BEAM a better buy right now?
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) offers the better valuation at 142.9x trailing P/E (49.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) a "Buy" — based on 51 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 — ALNY or BEAM?
Over the past 5 years, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) delivered a total return of +123.8%, compared to -70.2% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM). A $10,000 investment in ALNY five years ago would be worth approximately $22K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALNY returned +468.4% versus BEAM's +51.8%. 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 — ALNY or BEAM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.88β versus Beam Therapeutics Inc.'s 1.66β — meaning BEAM is approximately 89% more volatile than ALNY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 4% for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — ALNY or BEAM?
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) is the more profitable company, earning 8.4% net margin versus -57.2% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALNY leads at 13.5% versus -274.6% for BEAM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEAM leads at 84.0%, 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.
05Is ALNY or BEAM more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BEAM: 43.6% to $40.86.
06Which pays a better dividend — ALNY or BEAM?
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 ALNY or BEAM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.88), +468.4% 10Y return). Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) carries a higher beta of 1.66 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALNY: +468.4%, BEAM: +51.8%), 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.
08What are the main differences between ALNY and BEAM?
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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