EXAS vs GH vs NTRA

For growth investors, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is the stronger pick with 35. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 17. 7% for Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS). Analysts rate Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) a "Buy" — based on 41 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.

Over the past 5 years, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) delivered a total return of +124. 9%, compared to -17. 1% for Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NTRA returned +1895% versus GH's +309. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

07β versus Natera, Inc. 's 1. 22β — meaning NTRA is approximately -1761% more volatile than EXAS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Natera, Inc. (NTRA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 105% for Exact Sciences Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is pulling ahead at 35. 9% versus 17. 7% for Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Exact Sciences Corporation grew EPS 80. 3% year-over-year, compared to 0. 7% for Natera, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NTRA leads at 41. 1% 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.

Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the more profitable company, earning -6.

4% net margin versus -42. 4% for Guardant Health, Inc. — meaning it keeps -6. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXAS leads at -6. 4% versus -44. 4% for GH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXAS leads at 69. 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NTRA: 12.

3% to $259. 88.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

07), +867. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXAS: +867. 8%, GH: +309. 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.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.