Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) vs Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ASND | 90.2% revenue growth vs CPRX's 19.8% |
| Value | CPRX | Lower P/E (12.4x vs 49.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | CPRX | 36.4% net margin vs ASND's -31.7% |
| Stability / Safety | ASND | Beta 0.24 vs CPRX's 0.82 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ASND | +49.1% vs CPRX's +0.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CPRX | 19.4% ROA vs ASND's -17.5%, ROIC 83.9% vs -69.1% |
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
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.
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.
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 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CPRX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ASND leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ASND and CPRX operate at a comparable scale, with $718M and $589M in trailing revenue. CPRX is the more profitable business, keeping 36.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ASND's -31.7%. On growth, ASND holds the edge at +41.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $589M | $718M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $295M | -$119M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $214M | -$228M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $209M | $43M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.2% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +43.8% | -19.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | -31.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.4% | +6.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.6% | +41.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.1% | +15.6% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.8B | $14.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $14.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.74x | -54.69x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.36x | 49.09x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.73x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.18x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.80x | 17.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.08x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.55x | 278.56x |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ASND scores 5/9 vs CPRX's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.5% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +19.4% | -17.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +83.9% | -69.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.6% | -51.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$707M | $256M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $709M | $616M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2M | $871M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -0.62x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CPRX five years ago would be worth $57,700 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,939 for ASND. Over the past 12 months, ASND leads with a +49.1% total return vs CPRX's +0.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ASND at 28.1% vs CPRX's 14.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | +9.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +0.8% | +49.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.2% | +110.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +477.0% | +49.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2098.1% | +1245.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.8% | +28.1% |
Risk & Volatility
ASND is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CPRX's 0.82 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 CPRX's 86.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.58 | $242.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.05 | $124.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.8% | +96.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.9 | 54.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 976K | 573K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CPRX as "Buy" and ASND as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 43.0% upside for CPRX (target: $33) vs 22.7% for ASND (target: $287).
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | ASNDAscendis Pharma A… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $33.00 | $286.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 24 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | +0.1% |
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% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | 100 | 165.23 | +65.2% |
Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) returned +477% over 5 years vs Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND)'s +49%. 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 | — |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | $5M | $692M | +14917.6% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $0M (2016) to $589M (2025) — a 0.0% CAGR. Ascendis Pharma A/S's revenue grew from $5M (2016) to $692M (2025) — a 74.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | -68.0% | 36.4% | +153.5% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | -14.9% | -31.7% | -112.9% |
Ascendis Pharma A/S's net margin went from -15% (2016) to -32% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2019 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | 12.5 | 13.9 | +11.2% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has traded in a 5x–27x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~14x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | -0.22 | 1.68 | +863.6% |
| Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) | -2.58 | -3.62 | -40.3% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.22 (2016) to $1.68 (2025). Ascendis Pharma A/S's EPS grew from $-2.58 (2016) to $-3.62 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $209M FCF in 2025 (+251% vs 2021). Ascendis Pharma A/S generated $44M FCF in 2025 (+110% vs 2021).
CPRX vs ASND: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CPRX or ASND 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 ASND?
On forward P/E, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is actually cheaper at 12.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CPRX or ASND?
Over the past 5 years, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) delivered a total return of +477.0%, compared to +49.4% for Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND). 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 ASND's +1246%. 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 ASND?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ascendis Pharma A/S (ASND) is the lower-risk stock at 0.24β versus Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.82β — meaning CPRX is approximately 249% more volatile than ASND relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — CPRX or ASND?
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the more profitable company, earning 36.4% net margin versus -31.7% for Ascendis Pharma A/S — 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 -18.9% for ASND. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CPRX leads at 85.2%, 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.
06Is CPRX or ASND more undervalued right now?
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 CPRX: 43.0% to $33.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — CPRX or ASND?
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 ASND 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%, CPRX: +21.0%), 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 ASND?
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; ASND 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.