ATHA
Athira Pharma, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$17M
5Y Perf.-97.6%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
ATHA vs AVXL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AVXL
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$289M
5Y Perf.+3.3%
ATHA vs AVXL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ATHA | AVXL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $17M | $289M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-129M | $-40M |
| Total Debt | $803K | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $69M | $103M |
ATHA vs AVXL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ATHA
AVXL
| Stock | Sep 20 | Feb 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athira Pharma, Inc. (ATHA) | 100 | 2.4 | -97.6% |
| Anavex Life Science… (AVXL) | 100 | 103.3 | +3.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ATHA vs AVXL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ATHA and AVXL are tied at the top with 2 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Anavex Life Sciences Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ATHA
Athira Pharma, Inc.
The Income Pick
ATHA has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.47
- EPS growth 2.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.47, Low D/E 2.9%, current ratio 1.88x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
AVXL
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
The Long-Run Compounder
AVXL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- -25.7% 10Y total return vs ATHA's -97.5%
- -34.9% revenue growth vs ATHA's -64.6%
- -30.0% ROA vs ATHA's -225.7%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AVXL | -34.9% revenue growth vs ATHA's -64.6% |
| Stability / Safety | ATHA | Beta 1.47 vs AVXL's 1.51 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ATHA | +81.6% vs AVXL's -63.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AVXL | -30.0% ROA vs ATHA's -225.7% |
ATHA vs AVXL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAVXLLAGGINGATHA
ATHAAthira Pharma, Inc.
1leads
AVXLAnavex Life Sciences …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ATHAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
AVXL1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AVXL5/5
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AVXL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ATHA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AVXL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ATHA and AVXL operate at a comparable scale, with $0 and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | ATHAAthira Pharma, In… | AVXLAnavex Life Scien… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$110M | -$30M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$129M | -$40M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$52M | -$34M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +24.8% | +54.4% |
AVXL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ATHA and AVXL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ATHAAthira Pharma, In… | AVXLAnavex Life Scien… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $17M | $289M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$30M | $187M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.17x | -5.78x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.37x | 2.81x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — ATHA and AVXL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVXL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVXL delivers a -31.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-32 in annual profit, vs $-4 for ATHA.
| Metric | ATHAAthira Pharma, In… | AVXLAnavex Life Scien… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.8% | -31.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.3% | -30.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.3% | -47.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$68M | -$103M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $69M | $103M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $803,000 | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
AVXL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AVXL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AVXL five years ago would be worth $2,759 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $235 for ATHA. Over the past 12 months, ATHA leads with a +81.6% total return vs AVXL's -63.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AVXL at -28.1% vs ATHA's -46.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ATHAAthira Pharma, In… | AVXLAnavex Life Scien… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -37.6% | -15.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +81.6% | -63.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.8% | -62.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.7% | -72.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.5% | -25.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -46.7% | -28.1% |
AVXL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ATHA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ATHA is the less volatile stock with a 1.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AVXL's 1.51 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ATHA currently trades 51.9% from its 52-week high vs AVXL's 22.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ATHAAthira Pharma, In… | AVXLAnavex Life Scien… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.47x | 1.51x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $8.36 | $13.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.30 | $2.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +51.9% | +22.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.4 | 47.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 46K | 1.4M |
ATHA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ATHAAthira Pharma, In… | AVXLAnavex Life Scien… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $11.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AVXL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ATHA leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallAnavex Life Sciences Corp. (AVXL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
ATHA vs AVXL: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ATHA or AVXL a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
(AVXL) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — ATHA or AVXL?
Over the past 5 years, Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
(AVXL) delivered a total return of -72. 4%, compared to -97. 7% for Athira Pharma, Inc. (ATHA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AVXL returned -25. 7% versus ATHA's -97. 5%. 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 — ATHA or AVXL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Athira Pharma, Inc.
(ATHA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 47β versus Anavex Life Sciences Corp. 's 1. 51β — meaning AVXL is approximately 3% more volatile than ATHA relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — ATHA or AVXL?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Athira Pharma, Inc.
grew EPS 2. 0% year-over-year, compared to -3. 8% for Anavex Life Sciences Corp.. 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.
05Which has better profit margins — ATHA or AVXL?
Athira Pharma, Inc.
(ATHA) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Anavex Life Sciences Corp. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ATHA leads at 0. 0% versus 0. 0% for AVXL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATHA leads at 0. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — ATHA or AVXL?
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 ATHA or AVXL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
(AVXL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVXL: -25. 7%, ATHA: -97. 5%), 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 ATHA and AVXL?
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 outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.