Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Biogen Inc. (BIIB) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AGIO | 48.0% revenue growth vs BIIB's 1.4% |
| Quality / Margins | BIIB | 13.2% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | BIIB | Beta 0.61 vs AGIO's 0.91 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BIIB | +36.5% vs AGIO's -14.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BIIB | 4.4% ROA vs AGIO's -29.0%, ROIC 6.5% vs -26.6% |
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
Biogen is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. It generates revenue primarily from multiple sclerosis drugs like TECFIDERA and VUMERITY (~40% of sales), spinal muscular atrophy treatment SPINRAZA (~25%), and biosimilars for autoimmune conditions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep neuroscience expertise and specialized manufacturing capabilities for complex biologics.
Agios Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases related to cellular metabolism. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its lead drug PYRUKYND for pyruvate kinase deficiency — with additional income from research collaborations and milestone payments — while advancing a pipeline of other metabolic therapies. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in cellular metabolism science and proprietary platform for targeting metabolic pathways in rare diseases.
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
AGIO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). BIIB leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BIIB is the larger business by revenue, generating $9.8B annually — 219.0x AGIO's $45M. BIIB is the more profitable business, keeping 13.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, AGIO holds the edge at +43.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9.8B | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.8B | -$470M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | -$401M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.1B | -$414M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.5% | +84.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | -10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.2% | -9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | -9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.1% | +43.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -118.0% | -111.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $28.2B | $2.25T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $32.1B | $2.25T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.72x | -4.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.16x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.41x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.87x | 9999.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.54x | 1.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.73x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
BIIB delivers a 7.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $-31 for AGIO. AGIO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BIIB's 0.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BIIB scores 5/9 vs AGIO's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.1% | -31.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.4% | -29.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.5% | -26.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.7% | -33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.38x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.6B | -$49M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.0B | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.9B | $40M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.80x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BIIB five years ago would be worth $7,020 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,363 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, BIIB leads with a +36.5% total return vs AGIO's -14.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AGIO at 6.1% vs BIIB's -10.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.9% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.5% | -14.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -28.9% | +19.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.8% | -36.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -26.1% | -21.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -10.8% | +6.1% |
Risk & Volatility
BIIB is the less volatile stock with a 0.61 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGIO's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BIIB currently trades 94.8% from its 52-week high vs AGIO's 65.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.61x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $202.41 | $46.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $110.04 | $22.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.8% | +65.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.7 | 62.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 948K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BIIB as "Buy" and AGIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 37.3% upside for AGIO (target: $42) vs 7.8% for BIIB (target: $207).
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $206.76 | $41.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 47 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 100 | 54.62 | -45.4% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 57.07 | -42.9% |
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) returned -30% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | $11.4B | $9.8B | -14.3% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
Biogen Inc.'s revenue grew from $11.4B (2016) to $9.8B (2025) — a -1.7% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $70M (2016) to $54M (2025) — a -2.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 32.3% | 13.2% | -59.2% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
Biogen Inc.'s net margin went from 32% (2016) to 13% (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 26.7 | 19.9 | -25.5% |
Biogen Inc. has traded in a 9x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 16.93 | 8.83 | -47.8% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
Biogen Inc.'s EPS grew from $16.93 (2016) to $8.83 (2025) — a -7% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Biogen Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (-39% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
BIIB vs AGIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BIIB or AGIO a better buy right now?
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) offers the better valuation at 21.7x trailing P/E (12.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Biogen Inc. (BIIB) a "Buy" — based on 47 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 — BIIB or AGIO?
Over the past 5 years, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) delivered a total return of -29.8%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in BIIB five years ago would be worth approximately $7K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AGIO returned -21.2% versus BIIB's -26.1%. 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 — BIIB or AGIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the lower-risk stock at 0.61β versus Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.91β — meaning AGIO is approximately 47% more volatile than BIIB relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 38% for Biogen Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — BIIB or AGIO?
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the more profitable company, earning 13.2% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BIIB leads at 19.1% versus -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGIO leads at 88.3%, 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.
05Is BIIB or AGIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGIO: 37.3% to $41.50.
06Which pays a better dividend — BIIB or AGIO?
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 BIIB or AGIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.61)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BIIB: -26.1%, AGIO: -21.2%), 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 BIIB and AGIO?
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.
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