Biotechnology
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BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
Medical - Diagnostics & Research
BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Medical - Diagnostics & Research | Medical - Diagnostics & Research |
| Market Cap | $641M | $378M | $30.32B | $8.98B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $9M | $218M | $16.63B | $4.03B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-81M | $-240M | $1.39B | $-185M |
| Gross Margin | 99.2% | 71.1% | 26.1% | 24.9% |
| Operating Margin | -10.3% | -73.6% | 13.9% | 11.8% |
| Forward P/E | — | — | 14.1x | 16.4x |
| Total Debt | $6M | $13M | $16.17B | $3.07B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $189M | $85M | $1.98B | $214M |
BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Sep 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioAge Labs, Inc. (BIOA) | 100 | 85.7 | -14.3% |
| Vanda Pharmaceutica… (VNDA) | 100 | 136.2 | +36.2% |
| IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) | 100 | 75.4 | -24.6% |
| Charles River Labor… (CRL) | 100 | 92.4 | -7.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BIOA is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +338.9% vs IQV's +16.5%
VNDA is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if sleep-well-at-night and defensive is your priority.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.04, Low D/E 3.9%, current ratio 2.39x
- Beta 1.04, current ratio 2.39x
- 8.7% revenue growth vs BIOA's -13.3%
- Beta 1.04 vs CRL's 1.52, lower leverage
IQV carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.33
- Rev growth 5.9%, EPS growth 4.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 4.2%
- 166.5% 10Y total return vs BIOA's -2.7%
- Lower P/E (14.1x vs 16.4x)
CRL lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 8.7% revenue growth vs BIOA's -13.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (14.1x vs 16.4x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 8.3% margin vs BIOA's -9.0% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.04 vs CRL's 1.52, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 4 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +338.9% vs IQV's +16.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 4.7% ROA vs VNDA's -44.6%, ROIC 8.7% vs -32.2% |
BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
IQV leads in 3 of 6 categories
BIOA leads 1 • VNDA leads 0 • CRL leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IQV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IQV is the larger business by revenue, generating $16.6B annually — 1849.0x BIOA's $9M. IQV is the more profitable business, keeping 8.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BIOA's -9.0%. On growth, IQV holds the edge at +8.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9M | $218M | $16.6B | $4.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$93M | -$150M | $3.5B | $757M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$81M | -$240M | $1.4B | -$185M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$82M | -$127M | $2.7B | $391M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +99.2% | +71.1% | +26.1% | +24.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -10.3% | -73.6% | +13.9% | +11.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.0% | -110.0% | +8.3% | -4.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.2% | -58.5% | +16.1% | +9.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +3.4% | +8.4% | +1.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +63.5% | -64.0% | +15.0% | -160.0% |
Valuation Metrics
IQV leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, IQV's 13.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CRL's 13.0x.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $641M | $378M | $30.3B | $9.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $458M | $305M | $44.5B | $11.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.96x | -1.71x | 22.79x | -62.52x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | 14.06x | 16.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 0.56x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | 12.97x | 12.98x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 71.28x | 1.75x | 1.86x | 2.24x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.35x | 1.15x | 4.67x | 2.81x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | 14.78x | 17.31x |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — BIOA and IQV each lead in 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IQV delivers a 22.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $-61 for VNDA. BIOA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to IQV's 2.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BIOA scores 5/9 vs VNDA's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -27.9% | -61.4% | +22.1% | -5.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -25.5% | -44.6% | +4.7% | -2.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.1% | -32.2% | +8.7% | +6.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -30.7% | -33.6% | +11.0% | +8.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.02x | 0.04x | 2.44x | 0.95x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$183M | -$72M | $14.2B | $2.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $189M | $85M | $2.0B | $214M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6M | $13M | $16.2B | $3.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -118.34x | — | 3.10x | 6.38x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
BIOA leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in BIOA five years ago would be worth $9,732 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,578 for VNDA. Over the past 12 months, BIOA leads with a +338.9% total return vs IQV's +16.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BIOA at -0.9% vs VNDA's -2.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +38.9% | -22.5% | -20.7% | -10.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +338.9% | +45.9% | +16.5% | +32.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.7% | -7.8% | -5.9% | -4.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.7% | -64.2% | -23.8% | -46.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.7% | -26.8% | +166.5% | +119.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -0.9% | -2.7% | -2.0% | -1.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VNDA and CRL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
VNDA is the less volatile stock with a 1.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CRL's 1.52 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CRL currently trades 79.5% from its 52-week high vs VNDA's 64.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.41x | 1.04x | 1.33x | 1.52x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $24.00 | $9.94 | $247.05 | $228.88 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.67 | $3.81 | $134.65 | $131.30 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.3% | +64.3% | +72.3% | +79.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.2 | 54.9 | 58.5 | 57.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 464K | 1.6M | 1.6M | 806K |
Analyst Outlook
IQV leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: BIOA as "Buy", VNDA as "Buy", IQV as "Buy", CRL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 152.5% upside for BIOA (target: $45) vs 12.9% for CRL (target: $205).
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $45.00 | $14.17 | $225.63 | $205.43 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 19 | 44 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | +4.1% | +4.0% |
IQV leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). BIOA leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
BIOA vs VNDA vs IQV vs CRL: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) is the stronger pick with 8. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -0. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). IQVIA Holdings Inc. (IQV) offers the better valuation at 22. 8x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BioAge Labs, Inc. (BIOA) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 — BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL?
On forward P/E, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
is actually cheaper at 14. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL?
Over the past 5 years, BioAge Labs, Inc.
(BIOA) delivered a total return of -2. 7%, compared to -64. 2% for Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VNDA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IQV returned +166. 5% versus VNDA's -26. 8%. 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 — BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 04β versus Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. 's 1. 52β — meaning CRL is approximately 47% more volatile than VNDA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BioAge Labs, Inc. (BIOA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 2% for IQVIA Holdings Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) is pulling ahead at 8. 7% versus -0. 9% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BioAge Labs, Inc. grew EPS 66. 2% year-over-year, compared to -1555. 0% for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, IQV leads at 4. 2% 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 — BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL?
IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 3% net margin versus -896. 1% for BioAge Labs, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IQV leads at 14. 0% versus -1031. 5% for BIOA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BIOA leads at 100. 0%, 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 BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, IQVIA Holdings Inc.
(IQV) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 16. 4x for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. — 2. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BIOA: 152. 5% to $45. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL?
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 BIOA or VNDA or IQV or CRL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(VNDA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 04)). Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (CRL) carries a higher beta of 1. 52 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VNDA: -26. 8%, CRL: +119. 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.
10What are the main differences between BIOA and VNDA and IQV and CRL?
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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