Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) vs BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (BBIO) 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 | BBIO | 126.3% revenue growth vs CPRX's 19.8% |
| Quality / Margins | CPRX | 36.4% net margin vs BBIO's -145.3% |
| Stability / Safety | CPRX | Beta 0.82 vs BBIO's 1.04 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BBIO | +90.5% vs CPRX's +0.8% |
| 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
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.
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
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CPRX leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Profitability & Efficiency and Risk & Volatility. 3 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CPRX and BBIO operate at a comparable scale, with $589M and $502M in trailing revenue. CPRX is the more profitable business, keeping 36.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BBIO's -145.3%. On growth, BBIO holds the edge at +25.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $589M | $502M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $295M | -$560M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $214M | -$729M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $209M | -$458M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.2% | +94.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +43.8% | -113.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +36.4% | -145.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.4% | -91.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.6% | +25.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -9.1% | +28.6% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.8B | $12.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $12.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.74x | -17.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.36x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.73x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.18x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.80x | 25.79x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.08x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.55x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CPRX scores 4/9 vs BBIO's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.5% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +19.4% | -77.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +83.9% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +30.6% | -80.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$707M | -$560M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $709M | $570M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2M | $10M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -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 $9,245 for BBIO. Over the past 12 months, BBIO leads with a +90.5% total return vs CPRX's +0.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BBIO at 79.9% vs CPRX's 14.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | -15.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +0.8% | +90.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.2% | +482.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +477.0% | -7.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +2098.1% | +141.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.8% | +79.9% |
Risk & Volatility
CPRX is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 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. CPRX currently trades 86.8% from its 52-week high vs BBIO's 78.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.04x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.58 | $84.94 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $19.05 | $28.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.8% | +78.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.9 | 39.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 976K | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CPRX as "Buy" and BBIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 48.8% upside for BBIO (target: $99) vs 43.0% for CPRX (target: $33).
| Metric | CPRXCatalyst Pharmace… | BBIOBridgeBio Pharma,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $33.00 | $98.92 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.9% | +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% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | 100 | 242.91 | +142.9% |
Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) returned +477% over 5 years vs BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO)'s -8%. 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 | — |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | $0.00 | $502M | — |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $0M (2016) to $589M (2025) — a 0.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Pharmaceut… (CPRX) | -68.0% | 36.4% | +153.5% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | -6.4% | -145.3% | -2162.2% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -68% (2018) to 36% (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% |
| BridgeBio Pharma, I… (BBIO) | -0.33 | -3.79 | -1048.5% |
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.22 (2016) to $1.68 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $209M FCF in 2025 (+251% vs 2021). BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. generated $-447M FCF in 2025 (+18% vs 2021).
CPRX vs BBIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CPRX 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 is the better long-term investment — CPRX or BBIO?
Over the past 5 years, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) delivered a total return of +477.0%, compared to -7.6% for BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. (BBIO). 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 BBIO's +141.3%. 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 — CPRX or BBIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.82β versus BridgeBio Pharma, Inc.'s 1.04β — meaning BBIO is approximately 26% more volatile than CPRX relative to the S&P 500.
04Which has better profit margins — CPRX or BBIO?
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the more profitable company, earning 36.4% net margin versus -145.3% for BridgeBio Pharma, 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 -113.3% for BBIO. 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.
05Is CPRX or BBIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BBIO: 48.8% to $98.92.
06Which pays a better dividend — CPRX 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.
07Is CPRX or BBIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.82)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CPRX: +21.0%, 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.
08What are the main differences between CPRX 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; 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.