BCRX
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$1.87B
5Y Perf.+97.8%
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Stock Comparison
BCRX vs ACAD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.86B
5Y Perf.-54.6%
BCRX vs ACAD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BCRX | ACAD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $1.87B | $3.86B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $886M | $1.10B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-458M | $376M |
| Gross Margin | 18.9% | 91.5% |
| Operating Margin | -43.1% | 7.4% |
| Forward P/E | 32.9x | 50.9x |
| Total Debt | $477M | $52M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $90M | $178M |
BCRX vs ACAD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BCRX
ACAD
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioCryst Pharmaceut… (BCRX) | 100 | 197.8 | +97.8% |
| ACADIA Pharmaceutic… (ACAD) | 100 | 45.4 | -54.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BCRX vs ACAD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: BCRX and ACAD are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
BCRX
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Income Pick
BCRX has the current edge in this matchup, primarily because of its strength in income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.82
- Rev growth 94.1%, EPS growth 381.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 47.8%
- 190.8% 10Y total return vs ACAD's -22.9%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Quality Compounder
ACAD is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and momentum.
- 34.3% margin vs BCRX's -51.7%
- +52.4% vs BCRX's -11.7%
- 26.2% ROA vs BCRX's -97.3%, ROIC 10.0% vs 96.7%
Best for: quality and momentum
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BCRX | 94.1% revenue growth vs ACAD's 11.9% |
| Value | BCRX | Lower P/E (32.9x vs 50.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACAD | 34.3% margin vs BCRX's -51.7% |
| Stability / Safety | BCRX | Beta 0.82 vs ACAD's 1.26 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACAD | +52.4% vs BCRX's -11.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACAD | 26.2% ROA vs BCRX's -97.3%, ROIC 10.0% vs 96.7% |
BCRX vs ACAD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2018
BCRX vs ACAD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBCRXLAGGINGACAD
ACADACADIA Pharmaceutical…
1leads
BCRXBioCryst Pharmaceutic…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACADMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ACAD4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BCRX5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
BCRX4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACAD leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACAD and BCRX operate at a comparable scale, with $1.1B and $886M in trailing revenue. ACAD is the more profitable business, keeping 34.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BCRX's -51.7%.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $886M | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$377M | $96M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$458M | $376M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $294M | $212M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.9% | +91.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -43.1% | +7.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -51.7% | +34.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +33.2% | +19.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.5% | +9.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -81.8% |
ACAD leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BCRX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 7.4x trailing earnings, BCRX trades at a 25% valuation discount to ACAD's 9.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BCRX's 6.6x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ACAD's 26.9x.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $3.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.3B | $3.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.36x | 9.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 32.89x | 50.91x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.59x | 26.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.14x | 3.61x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 3.15x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.71x | 36.74x |
BCRX leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — BCRX and ACAD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BCRX scores 7/9 vs ACAD's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +35.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -97.3% | +26.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +96.7% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +105.2% | +10.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $388M | -$126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $90M | $178M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $477M | $52M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -10.66x | — |
Evenly matched — BCRX and ACAD each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BCRX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACAD five years ago would be worth $10,710 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,784 for BCRX. Over the past 12 months, ACAD leads with a +52.4% total return vs BCRX's -11.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BCRX at 1.6% vs ACAD's 1.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +18.7% | -13.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.7% | +52.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +4.8% | +4.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -32.2% | +7.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +190.8% | -22.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +1.6% | +1.5% |
BCRX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BCRX and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BCRX is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACAD's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.31 | $27.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.00 | $14.45 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +78.7% | +81.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.5 | 44.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.4M | 1.8M |
Evenly matched — BCRX and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BCRX as "Buy" and ACAD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 91.0% upside for BCRX (target: $17) vs 54.1% for ACAD (target: $35).
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.00 | $34.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 37 |
| 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
BCRX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). ACAD leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
Best OverallBioCryst Pharmaceuticals, I… (BCRX)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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BCRX vs ACAD: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BCRX or ACAD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(BCRX) is the stronger pick with 94. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 11. 9% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD). BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) offers the better valuation at 7. 4x trailing P/E (32. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 — BCRX or ACAD?
On trailing P/E, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(BCRX) is the cheapest at 7. 4x versus ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 9. 9x. On forward P/E, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is actually cheaper at 32. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BCRX or ACAD?
Over the past 5 years, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) delivered a total return of +7. 1%, compared to -32. 2% for BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BCRX returned +190. 8% versus ACAD's -22. 9%. 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 — BCRX or ACAD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(BCRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. 's 1. 26β — meaning ACAD is approximately 53% more volatile than BCRX relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — BCRX or ACAD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(BCRX) is pulling ahead at 94. 1% versus 11. 9% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. grew EPS 381. 4% year-over-year, compared to 68. 4% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BCRX leads at 47. 8% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — BCRX or ACAD?
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 5% net margin versus 30. 2% for BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BCRX leads at 39. 0% versus 9. 8% for ACAD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BCRX leads at 97. 8%, 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.
07Is BCRX or ACAD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(BCRX) trades at 32. 9x forward P/E versus 50. 9x for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. — 18. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BCRX: 91. 0% to $17. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BCRX or ACAD?
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.
09Is BCRX or ACAD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(BCRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), +190. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BCRX: +190. 8%, ACAD: -22. 9%), 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.
10What are the main differences between BCRX and ACAD?
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: BCRX is a small-cap high-growth stock; ACAD is a small-cap deep-value 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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