Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) 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 | CPRX | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | CPRX | 36.4% 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) | CPRX | 19.4% ROA vs BBIO's -77.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for rare neuromuscular and neurological diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of Firdapse — its amifampridine phosphate tablets for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome — which represents the vast majority of its income, supplemented by its pediatric LEMS drug Ruzurgi. The company's moat lies in its orphan drug exclusivity for rare disease treatments and its specialized expertise in neuromuscular disorders, creating 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
CPRX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). BBIO leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VRTX is the larger business by revenue, generating $11.7B annually — 261.7x AGIO's $45M. CPRX is the more profitable business, keeping 36.4% 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 | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $589M | $45M | $11.7B | $718M | $502M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $295M | -$470M | $4.2B | -$119M | -$560M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $214M | -$401M | $3.7B | -$228M | -$729M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $209M | -$414M | $3.3B | $43M | -$458M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.2% | +84.4% | +86.3% | +86.3% | +94.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +43.8% | -10.6% | +34.1% | -19.0% | -113.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | -9.0% | +31.3% | -31.7% | -145.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.4% | -9.2% | +28.5% | +6.0% | -91.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.6% | +43.7% | +11.0% | +41.0% | +25.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.1% | -111.0% | +4.7% | +15.6% | +28.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 13.7x trailing earnings, CPRX trades at a 58% valuation discount to VRTX's 32.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CPRX offers better value at 0.73x vs VRTX's 3.91x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.8B | $2.25T | $126.2B | $14.3B | $12.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $2.25T | $124.8B | $14.6B | $12.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.74x | -4.25x | 32.43x | -54.69x | -17.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.36x | — | 25.66x | 49.09x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.73x | — | 3.91x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.18x | — | 26.63x | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.80x | 9999.00x | 10.52x | 17.57x | 25.79x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.08x | 1.47x | 6.87x | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.55x | — | 39.51x | 278.56x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
CPRX delivers a 22.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $-31 for AGIO. CPRX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VRTX's 0.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VRTX scores 5/9 vs BBIO's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.5% | -31.2% | +21.2% | — | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +19.4% | -29.0% | +14.8% | -17.5% | -77.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +83.9% | -26.6% | +22.8% | -69.1% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.6% | -33.8% | +23.0% | -51.9% | -80.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.03x | 0.20x | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$707M | -$49M | $3.7B | $256M | -$560M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $709M | $89M | $5.1B | $616M | $570M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2M | $40M | $3.7B | $871M | $10M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — | 348.55x | -0.62x | -6.10x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CPRX five years ago would be worth $57,700 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 AGIO's 6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | +11.2% | +9.9% | +9.5% | -15.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +0.8% | -14.9% | +3.6% | +49.1% | +90.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.2% | +19.4% | +71.1% | +110.2% | +482.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +477.0% | -36.4% | +136.2% | +49.4% | -7.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2098.1% | -21.2% | +481.2% | +1245.8% | +141.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.8% | +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 | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… | VRTXVertex Pharmaceut… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.91x | 0.44x | 0.24x | 1.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.58 | $46.00 | $519.68 | $242.00 | $84.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.05 | $22.24 | $362.50 | $124.06 | $28.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.8% | +65.7% | +95.6% | +96.5% | +78.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.9 | 62.3 | 54.6 | 54.8 | 39.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 976K | 948K | 1.2M | 573K | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: CPRX 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 | CPRXCatalyst 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 | $33.00 | $41.50 | $545.08 | $286.50 | $98.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 29 | 55 | 24 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | 100 | 568.18 | +468.2% |
| 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% |
Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) returned +477% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%. A $10,000 investment in CPRX 5 years ago would be worth $57,700 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | $0.00 | $589M | — |
| 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 | — |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $0M (2016) to $589M (2025) — a 0.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | -68.0% | 36.4% | +153.5% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | 12.5 | 13.9 | +11.2% |
| Vertex Pharmaceutic… (VRTX) | 144.1 | 29.6 | -79.5% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has traded in a 5x–27x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | -0.22 | 1.68 | +863.6% |
| 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% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.22 (2016) to $1.68 (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $209M FCF in 2025 (+251% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
CPRX vs AGIO vs VRTX vs ASND vs BBIO: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CPRX or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO a better buy right now?
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) offers the better valuation at 13.7x trailing P/E (12.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 — CPRX or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
On trailing P/E, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the cheapest at 13.7x versus Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated at 32.4x. On forward P/E, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12.4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. wins at 0.66x versus Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's 3.10x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CPRX or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
Over the past 5 years, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) delivered a total return of +477.0%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in CPRX five years ago would be worth approximately $58K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CPRX returned +21.0% versus AGIO's -21.2%. 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 — CPRX 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, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 20% for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CPRX or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO?
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the more profitable company, earning 36.4% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CPRX leads at 43.8% 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 CPRX or AGIO or VRTX or ASND or BBIO more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.66x versus Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's 3.10x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) trades at 12.4x forward P/E versus 49.1x for Ascendis Pharma A/S — 36.7x 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 — CPRX 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 CPRX 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 CPRX 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. In terms of investment character: CPRX is a small-cap deep-value stock; AGIO is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; VRTX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ASND is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BBIO is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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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