DSGN
Design Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$881M
5Y Perf.-52.8%
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Stock Comparison
DSGN vs BEAM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BEAM
Beam Therapeutics Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.23B
5Y Perf.-60.7%
DSGN vs BEAM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DSGN | BEAM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $881M | $3.23B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $132M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-70M | $-65M |
| Gross Margin | — | -64.2% |
| Operating Margin | — | -281.0% |
| Total Debt | $645K | $294M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $17M | $295M |
DSGN vs BEAM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DSGN
BEAM
| Stock | Mar 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Therapeutics… (DSGN) | 100 | 47.2 | -52.8% |
| Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM) | 100 | 39.3 | -60.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DSGN vs BEAM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: DSGN leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for profitability and margin quality and capital preservation and lower volatility. Beam Therapeutics Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
DSGN
Design Therapeutics, Inc.
The Income Pick
DSGN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.51
- Lower volatility, beta 1.51, Low D/E 0.3%, current ratio 17.14x
- Beta 1.51, current ratio 17.14x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
BEAM
Beam Therapeutics Inc.
The Growth Play
BEAM is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 120.0%, EPS growth 82.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 31.9%
- 67.8% 10Y total return vs DSGN's -66.0%
- 120.0% revenue growth vs DSGN's -24.6%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BEAM | 120.0% revenue growth vs DSGN's -24.6% |
| Quality / Margins | DSGN | 4.3% margin vs BEAM's -49.2% |
| Stability / Safety | DSGN | Beta 1.51 vs BEAM's 2.14, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DSGN | +323.4% vs BEAM's +93.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BEAM | -4.6% ROA vs DSGN's -31.3%, ROIC -31.1% vs -28.5% |
DSGN vs BEAM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBEAMLAGGINGDSGN
DSGNDesign Therapeutics, …
1leads
BEAMBeam Therapeutics Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs DSGNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
BEAM1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BEAM2/2
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
DSGN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BEAM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BEAM and DSGN operate at a comparable scale, with $132M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $132M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$78M | -$355M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$70M | -$65M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$54M | -$384M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | -64.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -2.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -49.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -2.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.5% | +26.6% |
BEAM leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
BEAM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $881M | $3.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $864M | $3.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -11.56x | -38.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 23.14x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.80x | 2.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
BEAM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — DSGN and BEAM each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BEAM delivers a -5.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-6 in annual profit, vs $-33 for DSGN. DSGN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BEAM's 0.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BEAM scores 4/9 vs DSGN's 2/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -33.1% | -5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -31.3% | -4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -28.5% | -31.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -34.8% | -33.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$16M | -$1M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $17M | $295M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $645,000 | $294M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 1.08x |
Evenly matched — DSGN and BEAM each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DSGN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in DSGN five years ago would be worth $5,027 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,444 for BEAM. Over the past 12 months, DSGN leads with a +323.4% total return vs BEAM's +93.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DSGN at 22.9% vs BEAM's -1.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +54.9% | +16.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +323.4% | +93.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +85.5% | -5.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -49.7% | -55.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -66.0% | +67.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.9% | -1.9% |
DSGN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — DSGN and BEAM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
DSGN is the less volatile stock with a 1.51 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEAM's 2.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEAM currently trades 86.4% from its 52-week high vs DSGN's 81.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.51x | 2.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.25 | $36.44 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.11 | $15.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.7% | +86.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.3 | 60.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 377K | 2.0M |
Evenly matched — DSGN and BEAM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DSGN as "Buy" and BEAM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 29.7% upside for BEAM (target: $41) vs 18.8% for DSGN (target: $17).
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $16.75 | $40.83 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
BEAM leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). DSGN leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallBeam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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DSGN vs BEAM: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DSGN or BEAM a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Design Therapeutics, Inc.
(DSGN) a "Buy" — based on 6 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 — DSGN or BEAM?
Over the past 5 years, Design Therapeutics, Inc.
(DSGN) delivered a total return of -49. 7%, compared to -55. 6% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BEAM returned +67. 8% versus DSGN's -66. 0%. 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 — DSGN or BEAM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Design Therapeutics, Inc.
(DSGN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 51β versus Beam Therapeutics Inc. 's 2. 14β — meaning BEAM is approximately 41% more volatile than DSGN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Design Therapeutics, Inc. (DSGN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 24% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — DSGN or BEAM?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Beam Therapeutics Inc.
grew EPS 82. 3% year-over-year, compared to -38. 6% for Design Therapeutics, Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
05Which has better profit margins — DSGN or BEAM?
Design Therapeutics, Inc.
(DSGN) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -57. 2% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: DSGN leads at 0. 0% versus -274. 6% for BEAM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEAM leads at 84. 0%, 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — DSGN or BEAM?
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 DSGN or BEAM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Design Therapeutics, Inc.
(DSGN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) carries a higher beta of 2. 14 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (DSGN: -66. 0%, BEAM: +67. 8%), 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 DSGN and BEAM?
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: DSGN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BEAM is a small-cap high-growth 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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