ARCT vs MRNA

For growth investors, Moderna, Inc.

(MRNA) is the stronger pick with -39. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -51. 4% for Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT). Analysts rate Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT) a "Buy" — based on 21 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.

Over the past 5 years, Moderna, Inc.

(MRNA) delivered a total return of -69. 6%, compared to -69. 7% for Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MRNA returned +162. 3% versus ARCT's -68. 6%. 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), Moderna, Inc.

(MRNA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 82β versus Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. 's 2. 41β — meaning ARCT is approximately 33% more volatile than MRNA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 22% for Moderna, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Moderna, Inc.

(MRNA) is pulling ahead at -39. 2% versus -51. 4% for Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Moderna, Inc. grew EPS 21. 7% year-over-year, compared to 20. 0% for Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ARCT leads at -31. 1% 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.

Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc.

(ARCT) is the more profitable company, earning -97. 9% net margin versus -145. 2% for Moderna, Inc. — meaning it keeps -97. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ARCT leads at -111. 5% versus -158. 1% for MRNA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ARCT leads at 95. 5%, 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.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Moderna, Inc.

(MRNA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+162. 3% 10Y return). Arcturus Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ARCT) carries a higher beta of 2. 41 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MRNA: +162. 3%, ARCT: -68. 6%), 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.

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.