BDSX vs TMO vs A vs BIO vs ILMN

For growth investors, Biodesix, Inc.

(BDSX) is the stronger pick with 24. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) offers the better valuation at 9. 2x trailing P/E (27. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Biodesix, Inc. (BDSX) a "Buy" — based on 7 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.

On trailing P/E, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

(BIO) is the cheapest at 9. 2x versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. at 26. 8x. On forward P/E, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Agilent Technologies, Inc. wins at 1. 32x versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 8. 86x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

(TMO) delivered a total return of +2. 8%, compared to -94. 6% for Biodesix, Inc. (BDSX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TMO returned +222. 6% versus BDSX's -94. 0%. 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), Biodesix, Inc.

(BDSX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 40β versus Agilent Technologies, Inc. 's 1. 21β — meaning A is approximately 198% more volatile than BDSX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 21% versus 94% for Illumina, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(BDSX) is pulling ahead at 24. 1% versus -0. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Illumina, Inc. grew EPS 170. 9% year-over-year, compared to 3. 2% for Agilent Technologies, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BDSX leads at 32. 3% 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.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

(BIO) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 4% net margin versus -39. 8% for Biodesix, Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: A leads at 21. 3% versus -31. 5% for BDSX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BDSX leads at 75. 2%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 32x versus Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 's 8. 86x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) trades at 18. 7x forward P/E versus 27. 4x for Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. — 8. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for A: 39. 9% to $166. 00.

In this comparison, A (0.

8% yield), TMO (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. BDSX, BIO, ILMN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Biodesix, Inc.

(BDSX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 40)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BDSX: -94. 0%, ILMN: +3. 0%), 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.

In terms of investment character: BDSX is a small-cap high-growth stock; TMO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; A is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BIO is a small-cap deep-value stock; ILMN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. A pays a dividend while BDSX, TMO, BIO, ILMN do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.