DSGN
Design Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$888M
5Y Perf.-52.4%
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Stock Comparison
DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
DBVT
DBV Technologies S.A.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$1690.08T
5Y Perf.-63.0%
IMVT
Immunovant, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$5.88B
5Y Perf.+80.4%
ALKS
Alkermes plc
Biotechnology
Market Cap$5.83B
5Y Perf.+87.3%
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.84B
5Y Perf.-13.2%
DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | DSGN | DBVT | IMVT | ALKS | ACAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $888M | $1690.08T | $5.88B | $5.83B | $3.84B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.56B | $1.10B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-70M | $-168M | $-464M | $153M | $376M |
| Gross Margin | — | — | — | 65.4% | 91.5% |
| Operating Margin | — | — | — | 12.3% | 7.4% |
| Forward P/E | — | — | — | 24.5x | 55.6x |
| Total Debt | $645K | $22M | $98K | $70M | $52M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $17M | $194M | $714M | $1.12B | $178M |
DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
DSGN
DBVT
IMVT
ALKS
ACAD
| Stock | Mar 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Therapeutics… (DSGN) | 100 | 47.6 | -52.4% |
| DBV Technologies S.… (DBVT) | 100 | 37.0 | -63.0% |
| Immunovant, Inc. (IMVT) | 100 | 180.4 | +80.4% |
| Alkermes plc (ALKS) | 100 | 187.3 | +87.3% |
| ACADIA Pharmaceutic… (ACAD) | 100 | 86.8 | -13.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ACAD leads in 3 of 7 categories (5-stock set), making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Alkermes plc is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. DSGN also leads in specific categories worth noting. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
DSGN
Design Therapeutics, Inc.
The Momentum Pick
DSGN ranks third and is worth considering specifically for momentum.
- +304.0% vs ALKS's +15.2%
Best for: momentum
DBVT
DBV Technologies S.A.
The Income Pick
DBVT is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.26
Best for: income & stability
IMVT
Immunovant, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
IMVT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 190.9% 10Y total return vs ALKS's -12.0%
Best for: long-term compounding
ALKS
Alkermes plc
The Defensive Pick
ALKS is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if sleep-well-at-night is your priority.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.00, Low D/E 3.8%, current ratio 3.55x
- Lower P/E (24.5x vs 55.6x)
- Beta 1.00 vs DSGN's 1.49
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Growth Play
ACAD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and defensive.
- Rev growth 11.9%, EPS growth 68.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.5%
- Beta 1.11, current ratio 3.83x
- 11.9% revenue growth vs DBVT's -100.0%
- 34.3% margin vs DBVT's 0.3%
Best for: growth exposure and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACAD | 11.9% revenue growth vs DBVT's -100.0% |
| Value | ALKS | Lower P/E (24.5x vs 55.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | ACAD | 34.3% margin vs DBVT's 0.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ALKS | Beta 1.00 vs DSGN's 1.49 |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 5 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | DSGN | +304.0% vs ALKS's +15.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACAD | 26.2% ROA vs DBVT's -89.0% |
DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
FY 2018
DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 5 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLALKSLAGGINGACAD
Who Leads Where
ALKS leads in 3 of 6 categories
DSGN leads 1 • DBVT leads 0 • IMVT leads 0 • ACAD leads 0 • 1 tied
Explore the data ↓ACADACADIA Pharmaceutical…
0leads
IMVTImmunovant, Inc.
0leads
DBVTDBV Technologies S.A.
0leads
DSGNDesign Therapeutics, …
1leads
ALKSAlkermes plc
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs DSGNvs DBVTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ALKS3/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ALKS2/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ALKS5/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
DSGN4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ALKS leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ALKS and IMVT operate at a comparable scale, with $1.6B and $0 in trailing revenue. ACAD is the more profitable business, keeping 34.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ALKS's 9.8%. On growth, ALKS holds the edge at +28.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | DBVTDBV Technologies … | IMVTImmunovant, Inc. | ALKSAlkermes plc | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1.6B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$78M | -$112M | -$487M | $212M | $96M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$70M | -$168M | -$464M | $153M | $376M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$54M | -$151M | -$423M | $392M | $212M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | +65.4% | +91.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | +12.3% | +7.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | +9.8% | +34.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | +25.1% | +19.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — | — | +28.2% | +9.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.5% | +91.5% | +19.7% | -4.1% | -81.8% |
ALKS leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ALKS leads this category, winning 2 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 9.8x trailing earnings, ACAD trades at a 60% valuation discount to ALKS's 24.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ALKS's 17.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ACAD's 26.7x.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | DBVTDBV Technologies … | IMVTImmunovant, Inc. | ALKSAlkermes plc | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $888M | $1690.08T | $5.9B | $5.8B | $3.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $872M | $1690.08T | $5.2B | $4.8B | $3.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -11.66x | -0.75x | -10.60x | 24.47x | 9.78x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — | 55.62x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | — | 17.01x | 26.71x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — | — | 3.95x | 3.58x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.84x | 0.65x | 6.20x | 3.25x | 3.13x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | 12.14x | 36.48x |
ALKS leads this category, winning 2 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ALKS leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD delivers a 35.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $36 in annual profit, vs $-130 for DBVT. IMVT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DBVT's 0.13x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ALKS scores 7/9 vs IMVT's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | DBVTDBV Technologies … | IMVTImmunovant, Inc. | ALKSAlkermes plc | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -33.1% | -130.2% | -47.1% | +8.8% | +35.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -31.3% | -89.0% | -44.1% | +5.4% | +26.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -28.5% | — | — | +18.9% | +10.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -34.8% | -145.7% | -66.1% | +14.2% | +10.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.13x | 0.00x | 0.04x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$16M | -$172M | -$714M | -$1.0B | -$126M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $17M | $194M | $714M | $1.1B | $178M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $645,000 | $22M | $98,000 | $70M | $52M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -189.82x | — | 32.30x | — |
ALKS leads this category, winning 5 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
DSGN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IMVT five years ago would be worth $18,445 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,172 for DBVT. Over the past 12 months, DSGN leads with a +304.0% total return vs ALKS's +15.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DSGN at 23.2% vs ACAD's 1.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | DBVTDBV Technologies … | IMVTImmunovant, Inc. | ALKSAlkermes plc | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +56.3% | +3.6% | +11.7% | +23.8% | -14.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +304.0% | +100.5% | +102.4% | +15.2% | +32.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +87.1% | +18.1% | +49.8% | +13.2% | +3.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -49.8% | -68.3% | +84.4% | +61.7% | +6.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.7% | -87.1% | +190.9% | -12.0% | -23.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +23.2% | +5.7% | +14.4% | +4.2% | +1.3% |
DSGN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — IMVT and ALKS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ALKS is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DSGN's 1.49 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IMVT currently trades 96.2% from its 52-week high vs DBVT's 75.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | DBVTDBV Technologies … | IMVTImmunovant, Inc. | ALKSAlkermes plc | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.49x | 1.26x | 1.36x | 1.00x | 1.11x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.25 | $26.18 | $30.09 | $36.60 | $27.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.11 | $7.53 | $13.36 | $25.17 | $14.68 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +82.4% | +75.3% | +96.2% | +95.6% | +80.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.7 | 47.4 | 50.6 | 60.5 | 53.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 383K | 252K | 1.4M | 2.2M | 1.7M |
Evenly matched — IMVT and ALKS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: DSGN as "Buy", DBVT as "Buy", IMVT as "Buy", ALKS as "Buy", ACAD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 134.8% upside for DBVT (target: $46) vs 23.1% for DSGN (target: $18).
| Metric | DSGNDesign Therapeuti… | DBVTDBV Technologies … | IMVTImmunovant, Inc. | ALKSAlkermes plc | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $17.50 | $46.33 | $45.50 | $46.00 | $34.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 15 | 23 | 28 | 37 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.5% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
ALKS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). DSGN leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallAlkermes plc (ALKS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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DSGN vs DBVT vs IMVT vs ALKS vs ACAD: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the stronger pick with 11. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) offers the better valuation at 9. 8x trailing P/E (55. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Design Therapeutics, Inc. (DSGN) a "Buy" — based on 7 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 — DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD?
On trailing P/E, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the cheapest at 9. 8x versus Alkermes plc at 24. 5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD?
Over the past 5 years, Immunovant, Inc.
(IMVT) delivered a total return of +84. 4%, compared to -68. 3% for DBV Technologies S. A. (DBVT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IMVT returned +190. 9% versus DBVT's -87. 1%. 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 — DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
00β versus Design Therapeutics, Inc. 's 1. 49β — meaning DSGN is approximately 49% more volatile than ALKS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Immunovant, Inc. (IMVT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 13% for DBV Technologies S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is pulling ahead at 11. 9% versus -5. 2% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. grew EPS 68. 4% year-over-year, compared to -347. 5% for DBV Technologies S. A.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACAD leads at 27. 5% annualised revenue growth. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD?
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 5% net margin versus 0. 0% for Immunovant, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALKS leads at 17. 2% versus 0. 0% for IMVT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACAD leads at 91. 7%, 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.
07Is DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DBVT: 134.
8% to $46. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD?
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.
09Is DSGN or DBVT or IMVT or ALKS or ACAD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
00)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALKS: -12. 0%, DSGN: -65. 7%), 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.
10What are the main differences between DSGN and DBVT and IMVT and ALKS and ACAD?
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; DBVT is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; IMVT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ALKS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACAD is a small-cap deep-value 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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