Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) 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 | VRTX | 8.9% revenue growth vs CASI's -15.8% |
| Quality / Margins | VRTX | 31.3% net margin vs CASI's -183.9% |
| Stability / Safety | VRTX | Beta 0.44 vs CASI's 0.46, lower leverage |
| Dividends | CASI | 22.6% yield; VRTX pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VRTX | +3.6% vs CASI's -90.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VRTX | 14.8% ROA vs CASI's -201.9%, ROIC 22.8% 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.
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.
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
VRTX leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CASI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VRTX is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.7B annually — 436.7x CASI's $27M. VRTX is the more profitable business, keeping 31.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CASI's -183.9%. On growth, VRTX holds the edge at +11.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $27M | $11.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$44M | $4.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$49M | $3.7B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $0 | $3.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.8% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -168.0% | +34.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -183.9% | +31.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -103.2% | +28.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -60.5% | +11.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -23.6% | +4.7% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $126.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $12M | $124.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.08x | 32.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 25.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 3.91x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 26.63x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.11x | 10.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.72x | 6.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 39.51x |
Profitability & Efficiency
VRTX delivers a 21.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $21 in annual profit, vs $-3 for CASI. VRTX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.20x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CASI's 11.96x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VRTX scores 5/9 vs CASI's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -3.0% | +21.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.0% | +14.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -153.0% | +22.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -104.6% | +23.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 11.96x | 0.20x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $9M | $3.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $13M | $5.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22M | $3.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -66.88x | 348.55x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VRTX five years ago would be worth $23,616 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $82 for CASI. Over the past 12 months, VRTX leads with a +3.6% total return vs CASI's -90.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VRTX at 19.6% vs CASI's -52.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -74.7% | +9.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -90.8% | +3.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -89.2% | +71.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -99.2% | +136.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.4% | +481.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -52.4% | +19.6% |
Risk & Volatility
VRTX is the less volatile stock with a 0.44 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CASI's 0.46 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VRTX currently trades 95.6% 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… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.46x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.09 | $519.68 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.21 | $362.50 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +6.7% | +95.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.9 | 54.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 34K | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
CASI is the only dividend payer here at 22.56% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CASICASI Pharmaceutic… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $545.08 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 55 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +22.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.05 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.6% |
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% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 100 | 203.2 | +103.2% |
Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) returned +136% over 5 years vs CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI)'s -99%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | $0.00 | $29M | — |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | $1.7B | $12.0B | +605.1% |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's revenue grew from $1.7B (2016) to $12.0B (2025) — a 24.2% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | -11.0% | -137.6% | -1152.8% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | -6.6% | 32.9% | +600.4% |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's net margin went from -7% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 144.1 | 29.6 | -79.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASI Pharmaceutical… (CASI) | -1.69 | -2.56 | -51.5% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | -0.46 | 15.32 | +3430.4% |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's EPS grew from $-0.46 (2016) to $15.32 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-29M FCF in 2024 (+30% vs 2021). Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+33% vs 2021).
CASI vs VRTX: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CASI or VRTX 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) a "Buy" — based on 55 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 VRTX?
Over the past 5 years, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) delivered a total return of +136.2%, compared to -99.2% for CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI). 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: VRTX returned +481.2% 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 VRTX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.44β versus CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.46β — meaning CASI is approximately 3% more volatile than VRTX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 12% for CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — CASI or VRTX?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) is the more profitable company, earning 32.9% net margin versus -137.6% for CASI 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 -138.8% for CASI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — VRTX leads at 86.2%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — CASI or VRTX?
In this comparison, CASI (22.6% yield) pays a dividend. VRTX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
06Is CASI or VRTX 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%, VRTX: +481.2%), 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.
07What are the main differences between CASI and VRTX?
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; VRTX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. CASI pays a dividend while VRTX 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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