Biotechnology
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ATHE vs SAVA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
ATHE vs SAVA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $85M | $94M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $9M | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-31M | $-106M |
| Gross Margin | 97.1% | — |
| Operating Margin | -338.9% | — |
| Total Debt | $155K | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $33M | $129M |
ATHE vs SAVA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterity Therapeuti… (ATHE) | 100 | 80.5 | -19.5% |
| Cassava Sciences, I… (SAVA) | 100 | 745.8 | +645.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ATHE vs SAVA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
ATHE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.04
- Lower volatility, beta 1.04, Low D/E 0.4%, current ratio 12.98x
- Beta 1.04, current ratio 12.98x
SAVA is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- EPS growth 77.6%
- -19.5% 10Y total return vs ATHE's -87.2%
- 5.4% margin vs ATHE's -330.6%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 35.3% revenue growth vs SAVA's -5.4% | |
| Quality / Margins | 5.4% margin vs ATHE's -330.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.04 vs SAVA's 2.02 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +25.3% vs ATHE's +18.2% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -67.9% ROA vs SAVA's -75.3%, ROIC -204.0% vs -6.3% |
ATHE vs SAVA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ATHE leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ATHE and SAVA operate at a comparable scale, with $9M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9M | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$32M | -$110M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$31M | -$106M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$24M | -$84M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +97.1% | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -3.4% | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.3% | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.5% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +80.9% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +65.0% | +62.1% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ATHE and SAVA each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $85M | $94M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $61M | -$34M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.65x | -3.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 21.47x | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.62x | 0.63x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
ATHE leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ATHE delivers a -73.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-74 in annual profit, vs $-96 for SAVA. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ATHE scores 5/9 vs SAVA's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -73.7% | -95.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -67.9% | -75.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.0% | -6.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -51.7% | -99.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$33M | -$129M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $33M | $129M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $155,457 | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ATHE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ATHE five years ago would be worth $3,565 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,302 for SAVA. Over the past 12 months, SAVA leads with a +25.3% total return vs ATHE's +18.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ATHE at 17.1% vs SAVA's -16.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +47.8% | -6.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.2% | +25.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.5% | -40.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -64.4% | -67.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -87.2% | -19.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.1% | -16.0% |
Risk & Volatility
ATHE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ATHE is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAVA's 2.02 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ATHE currently trades 66.7% from its 52-week high vs SAVA's 39.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.04x | 2.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $7.00 | $4.98 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.66 | $1.51 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +66.7% | +39.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.1 | 46.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 19K | 712K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 12 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
ATHE leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
ATHE vs SAVA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ATHE or SAVA a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Cassava Sciences, Inc.
(SAVA) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — ATHE or SAVA?
Over the past 5 years, Alterity Therapeutics Limited (ATHE) delivered a total return of -64.
4%, compared to -67. 0% for Cassava Sciences, Inc. (SAVA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAVA returned -19. 5% versus ATHE's -87. 2%. 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 — ATHE or SAVA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alterity Therapeutics Limited (ATHE) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
04β versus Cassava Sciences, Inc. 's 2. 02β — meaning SAVA is approximately 94% more volatile than ATHE relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — ATHE or SAVA?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cassava Sciences, Inc.
grew EPS 77. 6% year-over-year, compared to 63. 5% for Alterity Therapeutics Limited. 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 — ATHE or SAVA?
Cassava Sciences, Inc.
(SAVA) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -223. 4% for Alterity Therapeutics Limited — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SAVA leads at 0. 0% versus -268. 0% for ATHE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ATHE leads at 97. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — ATHE or SAVA?
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 ATHE or SAVA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alterity Therapeutics Limited (ATHE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
04)). Cassava Sciences, Inc. (SAVA) carries a higher beta of 2. 02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATHE: -87. 2%, SAVA: -19. 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 ATHE and SAVA?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: ATHE is a small-cap high-growth stock; SAVA is a small-cap quality compounder 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.
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