Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI) vs Alkermes plc (ALKS) 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 | ALKS | -5.2% revenue growth vs CASI's -15.8% |
| Quality / Margins | ALKS | 16.4% net margin vs CASI's -183.9% |
| Stability / Safety | CASI | Beta 0.46 vs ALKS's 0.61 |
| Dividends | CASI | 22.6% yield; ALKS pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ALKS | -12.3% vs CASI's -90.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALKS | 9.7% ROA vs CASI's -201.9%, ROIC 14.9% vs -153.0% |
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
CASI Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes oncology therapeutics primarily in China. It generates revenue from sales of its approved drug EVOMELA for multiple myeloma treatment and through licensing partnerships for its pipeline of CAR-T therapies and other investigational cancer drugs. The company's key advantage lies in its strategic focus on the Chinese oncology market and its pipeline of novel immunotherapies targeting hematological cancers.
Alkermes is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes medicines for central nervous system disorders and other serious conditions. It generates revenue primarily from product sales of its proprietary drugs like VIVITROL and ARISTADA — which treat addiction and schizophrenia — along with royalties from partnered products and manufacturing services. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized drug delivery technologies that enable long-acting injectable formulations, creating significant barriers to entry for competitors.
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
ALKS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CASI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ALKS is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 55.0x CASI's $27M. ALKS is the more profitable business, keeping 16.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CASI's -183.9%. On growth, ALKS holds the edge at -10.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $27M | $1.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$44M | $281M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$49M | $242M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $520,800 |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.8% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -168.0% | +17.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -183.9% | +16.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -103.2% | +0.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.5% | -10.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -23.6% | -67.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $5.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12M | $4.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.08x | 21.05x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 32.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 15.89x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.11x | 3.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.72x | 2.79x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 9571.39x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ALKS delivers a 13.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $-3 for CASI. ALKS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.04x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CASI's 11.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALKS scores 5/9 vs CASI's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.0% | +13.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.0% | +9.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -153.0% | +14.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -104.6% | +14.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 11.96x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9M | -$518M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $13M | $588M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22M | $70M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -66.88x | 23.55x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ALKS five years ago would be worth $15,677 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $82 for CASI. Over the past 12 months, ALKS leads with a -12.3% total return vs CASI's -90.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ALKS at 4.0% vs CASI's -52.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -74.7% | +6.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -90.8% | -12.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -89.2% | +12.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -99.2% | +56.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.4% | -6.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -52.4% | +4.0% |
Risk & Volatility
CASI is the less volatile stock with a 0.46 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ALKS's 0.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ALKS currently trades 82.9% from its 52-week high vs CASI's 6.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.46x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.09 | $36.32 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.21 | $25.17 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +6.7% | +82.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.9 | 39.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 34K | 1.6M |
Analyst Outlook
CASI is the only dividend payer here at 22.56% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | ALKSAlkermes plc |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $46.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 28 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +22.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.05 | — |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | 100 | 5.53 | -94.5% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | 100 | 164.6 | +64.6% |
Alkermes plc (ALKS) returned +57% over 5 years vs CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI)'s -99%. A $10,000 investment in ALKS 5 years ago would be worth $15,677 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | $0.00 | $29M | — |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | $746M | $1.5B | +97.9% |
Alkermes plc's revenue grew from $746M (2016) to $1.5B (2025) — a 7.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | -11.0% | -137.6% | -1152.8% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | -28.0% | 16.4% | +158.6% |
Alkermes plc's net margin went from -28% (2016) to 16% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 3 Years
| Stock | 2023 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | 13.2 | 19.6 | +48.5% |
Alkermes plc has traded in a 13x–20x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | -1.69 | -2.56 | -51.5% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | -1.38 | 1.43 | +203.6% |
Alkermes plc's EPS grew from $-1.38 (2016) to $1.43 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-29M FCF in 2024 (+30% vs 2021). Alkermes plc generated $1M FCF in 2025 (-99% vs 2021).
CASI vs ALKS: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CASI or ALKS a better buy right now?
Alkermes plc (ALKS) offers the better valuation at 21.0x trailing P/E (32.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alkermes plc (ALKS) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — CASI or ALKS?
Over the past 5 years, Alkermes plc (ALKS) delivered a total return of +56.8%, compared to -99.2% for CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI). A $10,000 investment in ALKS five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALKS returned -6.7% versus CASI's -97.4%. 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 — CASI or ALKS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI) is the lower-risk stock at 0.46β versus Alkermes plc's 0.61β — meaning ALKS is approximately 33% more volatile than CASI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alkermes plc (ALKS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 12% for CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — CASI or ALKS?
Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the more profitable company, earning 16.4% net margin versus -137.6% for CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 16.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALKS leads at 17.2% versus -138.8% for CASI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALKS leads at 86.3%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — CASI or ALKS?
In this comparison, CASI (22.6% yield) pays a dividend. ALKS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
06Is CASI or ALKS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.46), 22.6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CASI: -97.4%, ALKS: -6.7%), 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.
07What are the main differences between CASI and ALKS?
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: CASI is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ALKS is a small-cap quality compounder stock. CASI pays a dividend while ALKS does 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.
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