Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VRTX | 8.9% revenue growth vs APLS's -11.8% |
| Value | VRTX | Lower P/E (25.7x vs 116.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | VRTX | 31.3% net margin vs APLS's 3.2% |
| Stability / Safety | VRTX | Beta 0.44 vs APLS's 0.84, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VRTX | +3.6% vs APLS's -16.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VRTX | 14.8% ROA vs APLS's 2.3%, ROIC 22.8% vs 27.4% |
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
Apellis Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing therapies that target the complement system — a part of the immune system — for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its approved drug EMPAVELI® (pegcetacoplan) for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, with additional revenue from SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan injection) for geographic atrophy, and is advancing a pipeline of complement-targeting candidates. Its key advantage is its deep expertise in complement inhibition — a complex biological pathway — and its first-mover position with the first approved therapy for geographic atrophy.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing transformative medicines for serious diseases, with its flagship franchise targeting cystic fibrosis. It generates nearly all its revenue from CF therapies — primarily Trikafta/Kaftrio — while building a pipeline in pain, kidney disease, and type 1 diabetes. Its moat stems from deep scientific expertise in CFTR biology and a dominant, near-monopoly position in the CF treatment market.
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
VRTX leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VRTX is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.7B annually — 17.0x APLS's $689M. VRTX is the more profitable business, keeping 31.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to APLS's 3.2%. On growth, VRTX holds the edge at +11.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | APLSApellis Pharmaceu… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $689M | $11.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $55M | $4.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $0 | $3.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $45M | $3.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.2% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.0% | +34.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.2% | +31.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.6% | +28.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -153.9% | +11.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -124.1% | +4.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 32.4x trailing earnings, VRTX trades at a 72% valuation discount to APLS's 116.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, VRTX's 26.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than APLS's 33.6x.
| Metric | APLSApellis Pharmaceu… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.7B | $126.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.3B | $124.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 116.44x | 32.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 25.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.91x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 33.61x | 26.63x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.85x | 10.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.14x | 6.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 58.55x | 39.51x |
Profitability & Efficiency
VRTX delivers a 21.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $7 for APLS. VRTX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.20x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to APLS's 0.30x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), APLS scores 6/9 vs VRTX's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | APLSApellis Pharmaceu… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.5% | +21.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.3% | +14.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +27.4% | +22.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.6% | +23.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.30x | 0.20x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$354M | $3.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $466M | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $113M | $3.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.22x | 348.55x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VRTX five years ago would be worth $23,616 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,396 for APLS. Over the past 12 months, VRTX leads with a +3.6% total return vs APLS's -16.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VRTX at 19.6% vs APLS's -31.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | APLSApellis Pharmaceu… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.9% | +9.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -16.7% | +3.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -68.0% | +71.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -56.0% | +136.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.4% | +481.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -31.6% | +19.6% |
Risk & Volatility
VRTX is the less volatile stock with a 0.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than APLS's 0.84 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VRTX currently trades 95.6% from its 52-week high vs APLS's 68.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | APLSApellis Pharmaceu… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.84x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.48 | $519.68 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $16.10 | $362.50 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.8% | +95.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.8 | 54.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates APLS as "Buy" and VRTX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 59.8% upside for APLS (target: $34) vs 9.7% for VRTX (target: $545).
| Metric | APLSApellis Pharmaceu… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $33.50 | $545.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 55 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apellis Pharmaceuti… (APLS) | 100 | 63.12 | -36.9% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 100 | 206.79 | +106.8% |
Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) returned +136% over 5 years vs Apellis Pharmaceuti… (APLS)'s -56%. A $10,000 investment in VRTX 5 years ago would be worth $23,616 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apellis Pharmaceuti… (APLS) | $0.00 | $689M | — |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | $1.7B | $12.0B | +605.1% |
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $0M (2016) to $689M (2025) — a 0.0% CAGR. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's revenue grew from $1.7B (2016) to $12.0B (2025) — a 24.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apellis Pharmaceuti… (APLS) | -137.6% | 3.2% | +102.4% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | -6.6% | 32.9% | +600.4% |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's net margin went from -7% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 144.1 | 29.6 | -79.5% |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has traded in a 21x–144x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~32x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apellis Pharmaceuti… (APLS) | -1.5 | 0.18 | +112.0% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | -0.46 | 15.32 | +3430.4% |
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.50 (2016) to $0.18 (2025). Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's EPS grew from $-0.46 (2016) to $15.32 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $45M FCF in 2025 (+108% vs 2021). Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+33% vs 2021).
APLS vs VRTX: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is APLS or VRTX a better buy right now?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) offers the better valuation at 32.4x trailing P/E (25.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS) a "Buy" — based on 25 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 — APLS or VRTX?
On trailing P/E, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the cheapest at 32.4x versus Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 116.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — APLS or VRTX?
Over the past 5 years, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) delivered a total return of +136.2%, compared to -56.0% for Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS). A $10,000 investment in VRTX five years ago would be worth approximately $24K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VRTX returned +481.2% versus APLS's +49.4%. 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 — APLS or VRTX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.44β versus Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.84β — meaning APLS is approximately 91% more volatile than VRTX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 30% for Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — APLS or VRTX?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the more profitable company, earning 32.9% net margin versus 3.2% for Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VRTX leads at 39.1% versus 8.0% for APLS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VRTX leads at 86.2%, 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 APLS or VRTX more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for APLS: 59.8% to $33.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — APLS or VRTX?
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 APLS or VRTX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.44), +481.2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VRTX: +481.2%, APLS: +49.4%), 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 APLS and VRTX?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.