Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) vs Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) vs BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (BBIO) 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 | BBIO | 126.3% revenue growth vs VRTX's 8.9% |
| Value | BMRN | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | VRTX | 31.3% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | ASND | Beta 0.24 vs BBIO's 1.04 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BBIO | +90.5% vs AGIO's -14.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VRTX | 14.8% ROA vs BBIO's -77.9% |
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
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.
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.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing transformative medicines for serious diseases, with its flagship franchise targeting cystic fibrosis. It generates nearly all its revenue from CF therapies — primarily Trikafta/Kaftrio — while building a pipeline in pain, kidney disease, and type 1 diabetes. Its moat stems from deep scientific expertise in CFTR biology and a dominant, near-monopoly position in the CF treatment market.
Ascendis Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies using its proprietary TransCon technology platform. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its approved growth hormone therapy SKYTROFA and through strategic partnerships — with future revenue expected from its pipeline of endocrinology and oncology treatments. The company's key competitive advantage is its TransCon platform, which enables sustained release of therapeutics with improved pharmacokinetics and reduced dosing frequency.
BridgeBio Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing precision medicines for genetic diseases. It generates revenue primarily through drug development partnerships and potential future product sales — though currently in pre-revenue stage with multiple programs in clinical trials. The company's key advantage is its efficient hub-and-spoke operating model that allows rapid development of targeted therapies for rare genetic conditions.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 5 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BMRN leads in 1 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics). VRTX leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VRTX is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.7B annually — 261.7x AGIO's $45M. VRTX is the more profitable business, keeping 31.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, BBIO holds the edge at +25.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.2B | $45M | $11.7B | $718M | $502M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $613M | -$470M | $4.2B | -$119M | -$560M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $349M | -$401M | $3.7B | -$228M | -$729M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $725M | -$414M | $3.3B | $43M | -$458M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +77.1% | +84.4% | +86.3% | +86.3% | +94.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.6% | -10.6% | +34.1% | -19.0% | -113.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.8% | -9.0% | +31.3% | -31.7% | -145.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.5% | -9.2% | +28.5% | +6.0% | -91.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +17.0% | +43.7% | +11.0% | +41.0% | +25.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -134.4% | -111.0% | +4.7% | +15.6% | +28.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 32.4x trailing earnings, VRTX trades at a 5% valuation discount to BMRN's 34.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BMRN's 18.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VRTX's 26.6x.
| Metric | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $11.9B | $2.25T | $126.2B | $14.3B | $12.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $11.1B | $2.25T | $124.8B | $14.6B | $12.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 34.29x | -4.25x | 32.43x | -54.69x | -17.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.45x | — | 25.66x | 49.09x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 3.91x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 18.18x | — | 26.63x | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.68x | 9999.00x | 10.52x | 17.57x | 25.79x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.00x | 1.47x | 6.87x | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 16.36x | — | 39.51x | 278.56x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
VRTX delivers a 21.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 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 VRTX's 0.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BMRN scores 5/9 vs BBIO's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.7% | -31.2% | +21.2% | — | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.6% | -29.0% | +14.8% | -17.5% | -77.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.4% | -26.6% | +22.8% | -69.1% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | -33.8% | +23.0% | -51.9% | -80.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.10x | 0.03x | 0.20x | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$715M | -$49M | $3.7B | $256M | -$560M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $89M | $5.1B | $616M | $570M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $597M | $40M | $3.7B | $871M | $10M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 48.95x | — | 348.55x | -0.62x | -6.10x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VRTX five years ago would be worth $23,616 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,363 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, BBIO leads with a +90.5% total return vs AGIO's -14.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BBIO at 79.9% vs BMRN's -14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +3.8% | +11.2% | +9.9% | +9.5% | -15.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -13.3% | -14.9% | +3.6% | +49.1% | +90.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -38.0% | +19.4% | +71.1% | +110.2% | +482.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.0% | -36.4% | +136.2% | +49.4% | -7.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -24.6% | -21.2% | +481.2% | +1245.8% | +141.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -14.7% | +6.1% | +19.6% | +28.1% | +79.9% |
Risk & Volatility
ASND is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BBIO's 1.04 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ASND currently trades 96.5% from its 52-week high vs AGIO's 65.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 0.91x | 0.44x | 0.24x | 1.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $73.51 | $46.00 | $519.68 | $242.00 | $84.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $50.76 | $22.24 | $362.50 | $124.06 | $28.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.0% | +65.7% | +95.6% | +96.5% | +78.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.6 | 62.3 | 54.6 | 54.8 | 39.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 948K | 1.2M | 573K | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: BMRN as "Buy", AGIO as "Buy", VRTX as "Buy", ASND as "Buy", BBIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 48.8% upside for BBIO (target: $99) vs 9.7% for VRTX (target: $545).
| Metric | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $82.00 | $41.50 | $545.08 | $286.50 | $98.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 40 | 29 | 55 | 24 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | +1.6% | +0.1% | +0.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | 100 | 61.39 | -38.6% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 57.07 | -42.9% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 100 | 203.2 | +103.2% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | 100 | 165.23 | +65.2% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | 100 | 242.91 | +142.9% |
Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) returned +136% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%. A $10,000 investment in VRTX 5 years ago would be worth $23,616 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | $1.1B | $0.00 | -100.0% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | $1.7B | $12.0B | +605.1% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | $5M | $692M | +14917.6% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | $0.00 | $502M | — |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $0M (2025) — a -100.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | -56.4% | 15.0% | +126.5% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | -6.6% | 32.9% | +600.4% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | -14.9% | -31.7% | -112.9% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | -6.4% | -145.3% | -2162.2% |
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | 19.4 | 424.5 | +2088.1% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 144.1 | 29.6 | -79.5% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. has traded in a 19x–425x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has traded in a 21x–144x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~32x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | -3.79 | 0.14 | +103.7% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | -0.46 | 15.32 | +3430.4% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | -2.58 | -3.62 | -40.3% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | -0.33 | -3.79 | -1048.5% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s EPS grew from $-3.79 (2016) to $0.14 (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. generated $725M FCF in 2025 (+291% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
BMRN vs AGIO vs VRTX vs ASND vs BBIO: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO a better buy right now?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) offers the better valuation at 32.4x trailing P/E (25.7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) a "Buy" — based on 40 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 — BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
On trailing P/E, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the cheapest at 32.4x 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 — BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
Over the past 5 years, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) delivered a total return of +136.2%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in VRTX five years ago would be worth approximately $24K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ASND returned +1246% 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 — BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) is the lower-risk stock at 0.24β versus BridgeBio Pharma, Inc.'s 1.04β — meaning BBIO is approximately 341% more volatile than ASND relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 20% for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the more profitable company, earning 32.9% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 32.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VRTX leads at 39.1% versus -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BBIO leads at 94.4%, 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 BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) trades at 15.4x forward P/E versus 49.1x for Ascendis Pharma A/S — 33.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BBIO: 48.8% to $98.92.
07Which pays a better dividend — BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
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 BMRN or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.24), +1246% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ASND: +1246%, BBIO: +141.3%), 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 BMRN and AGIO and VRTX and ASND and BBIO?
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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