Biotechnology
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FENC vs LCTX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
FENC vs LCTX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $194M | $333M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $39M | $15M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-7M | $-64M |
| Gross Margin | 93.1% | 99.0% |
| Operating Margin | -12.0% | -251.6% |
| Forward P/E | 53.8x | — |
| Total Debt | $19M | $2M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $27M | $41M |
FENC vs LCTX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fennec Pharmaceutic… (FENC) | 100 | 93.2 | -6.8% |
| Lineage Cell Therap… (LCTX) | 100 | 155.4 | +55.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FENC vs LCTX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
FENC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 123.7%, EPS growth 97.3%
- -42.5% 10Y total return vs LCTX's -51.2%
- 123.7% revenue growth vs LCTX's 53.2%
LCTX is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 1.53
- Lower volatility, beta 1.53, Low D/E 5.6%, current ratio 5.20x
- Beta 1.53, current ratio 5.20x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 123.7% revenue growth vs LCTX's 53.2% | |
| Quality / Margins | -17.9% margin vs LCTX's -436.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.53 vs FENC's 1.77 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +208.6% vs FENC's +12.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -15.0% ROA vs LCTX's -62.8% |
FENC vs LCTX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FENC vs LCTX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — FENC and LCTX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
FENC is the larger business by revenue, generating $39M annually — 2.7x LCTX's $15M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -17.9% (FENC) to -4.4% (LCTX). On growth, LCTX holds the edge at +130.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $39M | $15M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$5M | -$36M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$7M | -$64M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$8M | -$19M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +93.1% | +99.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -12.0% | -2.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -17.9% | -4.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -20.6% | -131.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +78.7% | +130.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +89.1% | +100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
FENC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $194M | $333M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $186M | $295M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -431.25x | -4.89x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 53.78x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 55.32x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.07x | 22.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 7.27x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.18x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
FENC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), FENC scores 6/9 vs LCTX's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -134.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -15.0% | -62.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -141.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.0% | -36.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.06x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$7M | -$38M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $27M | $41M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19M | $2M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.57x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — FENC and LCTX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in FENC five years ago would be worth $11,183 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,000 for LCTX. Over the past 12 months, LCTX leads with a +208.6% total return vs FENC's +12.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LCTX at -2.8% vs FENC's -4.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.2% | -16.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +12.9% | +208.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -13.2% | -8.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +11.8% | -50.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.5% | -51.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -4.6% | -2.8% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — FENC and LCTX each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
LCTX is the less volatile stock with a 1.53 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FENC's 1.77 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. FENC currently trades 69.6% from its 52-week high vs LCTX's 65.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.77x | 1.53x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.92 | $2.09 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.65 | $0.42 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +69.6% | +65.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.9 | 39.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 176K | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates FENC as "Buy" and LCTX as "Buy".
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.00 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 5 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.1% | 0.0% |
FENC leads in 2 of 6 categories — strongest in Valuation Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 3 categories are tied.
FENC vs LCTX: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FENC or LCTX a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(FENC) is the stronger pick with 123. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 53. 2% for Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (LCTX). Analysts rate Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (FENC) 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 is the better long-term investment — FENC or LCTX?
Over the past 5 years, Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(FENC) delivered a total return of +11. 8%, compared to -50. 0% for Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (LCTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FENC returned -42. 5% versus LCTX's -51. 2%. 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 — FENC or LCTX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
(LCTX) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 53β versus Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. 's 1. 77β — meaning FENC is approximately 15% more volatile than LCTX relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — FENC or LCTX?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(FENC) is pulling ahead at 123. 7% versus 53. 2% for Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (LCTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. grew EPS 97. 3% year-over-year, compared to -201. 1% for Lineage Cell 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 — FENC or LCTX?
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(FENC) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 9% net margin versus -436. 5% for Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FENC leads at 5. 4% versus -251. 6% for LCTX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LCTX leads at 99. 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 — FENC or LCTX?
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 FENC or LCTX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc.
(LCTX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (FENC) carries a higher beta of 1. 77 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (LCTX: -51. 2%, FENC: -42. 5%), 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 FENC and LCTX?
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.
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