Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) vs BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) 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 | BCRX | 94.1% revenue growth vs BMRN's 12.9% |
| Value | BMRN | Lower P/E (15.4x vs 28.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | BCRX | 30.2% net margin vs BMRN's 10.8% |
| Stability / Safety | BCRX | Beta 0.74 vs BMRN's 0.74 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BCRX | +1.6% vs BMRN's -13.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BCRX | 51.3% ROA vs BMRN's 4.6%, ROIC 8.1% vs 7.4% |
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
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that discovers and develops novel oral small-molecule medicines for rare diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its hereditary angioedema drug ORLADEYO — which accounts for the vast majority of its income — supplemented by royalties from its influenza treatment peramivir. The company's competitive advantage lies in its expertise in structure-guided drug design and its focus on oral therapies for complement-mediated diseases where few treatment options exist.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for rare genetic diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its orphan drug portfolio — including Voxzogo, Vimizim, and Palynziq — with additional income from licensing and royalties. The company's moat lies in its deep expertise in rare disease biology and its established commercial infrastructure for ultra-orphan drugs, which creates high barriers to entry.
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
BCRX leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BMRN is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 3.7x BCRX's $875M. BCRX is the more profitable business, keeping 30.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BMRN's 10.8%. On growth, BCRX holds the edge at +2.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $875M | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $342M | $613M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $264M | $349M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $503M | $725M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +97.8% | +77.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +39.0% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +30.2% | +10.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +57.5% | +22.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | +17.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.6% | -134.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 7.2x trailing earnings, BCRX trades at a 79% valuation discount to BMRN's 34.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BCRX's 5.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BMRN's 18.2x.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $11.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $11.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 7.23x | 34.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 28.11x | 15.45x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.24x | 18.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.13x | 3.68x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 2.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.37x | 16.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BCRX scores 7/9 vs BMRN's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +5.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +51.3% | +4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.1% | +7.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +105.2% | +7.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.10x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$78M | -$715M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $90M | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $12M | $597M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.66x | 48.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BMRN five years ago would be worth $7,797 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,304 for BCRX. Over the past 12 months, BCRX leads with a +1.6% total return vs BMRN's -13.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BCRX at -0.4% vs BMRN's -14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +16.7% | +3.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1.6% | -13.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -1.1% | -38.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -27.0% | -22.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +339.7% | -24.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.4% | -14.7% |
Risk & Volatility
BCRX is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BMRN's 0.74 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BMRN currently trades 84.0% from its 52-week high vs BCRX's 77.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 0.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.31 | $73.51 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.00 | $50.76 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.4% | +84.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.7 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.5M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BCRX as "Buy" and BMRN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 64.6% upside for BCRX (target: $14) vs 32.8% for BMRN (target: $82).
| Metric | BCRXBioCryst Pharmace… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.40 | $82.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 29 | 40 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioCryst Pharmaceut… (BCRX) | 100 | 203.37 | +103.4% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | 100 | 61.39 | -38.6% |
BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) returned -22% over 5 years vs BioCryst Pharmaceut… (BCRX)'s -27%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioCryst Pharmaceut… (BCRX) | $26M | $875M | +3219.7% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | $1.1B | $0.00 | -100.0% |
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $26M (2016) to $875M (2025) — a 47.6% CAGR. BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $0M (2025) — a -100.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioCryst Pharmaceut… (BCRX) | -2.1% | 30.2% | +1541.4% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | -56.4% | 15.0% | +126.5% |
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -2% (2016) to 30% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 5 Years
| Stock | 2020 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | 19.4 | 424.5 | +2088.1% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. has traded in a 19x–425x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioCryst Pharmaceut… (BCRX) | -0.75 | 1.21 | +261.3% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | -3.79 | 0.14 | +103.7% |
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.75 (2016) to $1.21 (2025). BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s EPS grew from $-3.79 (2016) to $0.14 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $347M FCF in 2025 (+340% vs 2021). BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. generated $725M FCF in 2025 (+291% vs 2021).
BCRX vs BMRN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BCRX or BMRN a better buy right now?
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) offers the better valuation at 7.2x trailing P/E (28.1x 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 BMRN?
On trailing P/E, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) is the cheapest at 7.2x versus BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. at 34.3x. On forward P/E, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. is actually cheaper at 15.4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BCRX or BMRN?
Over the past 5 years, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) delivered a total return of -22.0%, compared to -27.0% for BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX). A $10,000 investment in BMRN five years ago would be worth approximately $8K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BCRX returned +339.7% versus BMRN's -24.6%. 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 BMRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.74β versus BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s 0.74β — meaning BMRN is approximately 1% more volatile than BCRX relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — BCRX or BMRN?
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) is the more profitable company, earning 30.2% net margin versus 10.8% for BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. — meaning it keeps 30.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BCRX leads at 39.0% versus 16.6% for BMRN. 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.
06Is BCRX or BMRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) trades at 15.4x forward P/E versus 28.1x for BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — 12.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BCRX: 64.6% to $14.40.
07Which pays a better dividend — BCRX or BMRN?
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 BCRX or BMRN 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 0.74), +339.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BCRX: +339.7%, BMRN: -24.6%), 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.
09What are the main differences between BCRX and BMRN?
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 deep-value stock; BMRN is a mid-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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.