Biotechnology
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FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $585M | $22.62B | $2.57B | $5.35B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $-118M | $606M | $669M | $827M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $216M | $-1.28B | $-609M | $-187M |
| Gross Margin | 47.5% | 79.4% | 83.6% | 49.7% |
| Operating Margin | -5.1% | -194.0% | -83.9% | -8.3% |
| Forward P/E | — | — | — | 8.3x |
| Total Debt | $90M | $768M | $1.28B | $492M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $50M | $510M | $434M | $985M |
FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | Feb 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| FibroGen, Inc. (FGEN) | 100 | 0.9 | -99.1% |
| Insmed Incorporated (INSM) | 100 | 645.8 | +545.8% |
| Ultragenyx Pharmace… (RARE) | 100 | 35.2 | -64.8% |
| PTC Therapeutics, I… (PTCT) | 100 | 148.9 | +48.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
FGEN is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if income & stability is your priority.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.58, yield 0.3%
- 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend
- 157.4% ROA vs INSM's -57.3%
INSM is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 7.9% 10Y total return vs PTCT's 7.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.54, current ratio 3.83x
- Beta 0.54, current ratio 3.83x
- Beta 0.54 vs FGEN's 1.58
RARE lags the leaders in this set but could rank higher in a more targeted comparison.
PTCT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 114.5%, EPS growth 264.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 35.3%
- 114.5% revenue growth vs FGEN's -36.7%
- -22.6% margin vs INSM's -210.5%
- +58.2% vs RARE's -21.8%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 114.5% revenue growth vs FGEN's -36.7% | |
| Quality / Margins | -22.6% margin vs INSM's -210.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.54 vs FGEN's 1.58 | |
| Dividends | 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other 3 pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +58.2% vs RARE's -21.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 157.4% ROA vs INSM's -57.3% |
FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
PTCT leads in 2 of 6 categories
INSM leads 1 • FGEN leads 0 • RARE leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PTCT leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PTCT and FGEN operate at a comparable scale, with $827M and -$118M in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -22.6% (PTCT) to -2.1% (INSM). On growth, INSM holds the edge at +152.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | -$118M | $606M | $669M | $827M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$123M | -$1.2B | -$536M | -$37M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $216M | -$1.3B | -$609M | -$187M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$17M | -$998M | -$487M | -$229M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.5% | +79.4% | +83.6% | +49.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -5.1% | -194.0% | -83.9% | -8.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -160.6% | -2.1% | -91.0% | -22.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.7% | -164.5% | -72.8% | -27.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -97.7% | +152.6% | -2.4% | -76.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.7% | -16.7% | -17.2% | -100.3% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — INSM and PTCT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $585M | $22.6B | $2.6B | $5.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $625M | $22.9B | $3.4B | $4.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -15.63x | -16.35x | -4.48x | 8.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | — | 5.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 19.75x | 37.30x | 3.82x | 3.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 30.30x | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | 7.61x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PTCT leads this category, winning 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
FGEN delivers a 12.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $-6 for RARE. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PTCT scores 7/9 vs FGEN's 2/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +12.3% | -168.4% | -6.1% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +157.4% | -57.3% | -45.8% | -6.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -86.5% | -89.4% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -104.8% | -66.8% | -46.4% | +55.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.04x | — | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $40M | $258M | $842M | -$492M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $50M | $510M | $434M | $985M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $90M | $768M | $1.3B | $492M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -20.28x | -14.23x | -14.49x | -1.67x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
INSM leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in INSM five years ago would be worth $32,168 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $148 for FGEN. Over the past 12 months, PTCT leads with a +58.2% total return vs RARE's -21.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors INSM at 77.0% vs FGEN's -74.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.1% | -40.8% | +10.7% | -16.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -8.0% | +53.5% | -21.8% | +58.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.3% | +454.5% | -44.5% | +16.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.5% | +221.7% | -77.2% | +60.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.2% | +793.5% | -59.4% | +733.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -74.3% | +77.0% | -17.8% | +5.1% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — INSM and PTCT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
INSM is the less volatile stock with a 0.54 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than FGEN's 1.58 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PTCT currently trades 73.7% from its 52-week high vs INSM's 49.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.58x | 0.54x | 1.42x | 1.13x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $12.60 | $212.75 | $42.37 | $87.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.85 | $63.81 | $18.29 | $37.94 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +59.5% | +49.3% | +61.7% | +73.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.4 | 41.9 | 66.6 | 45.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10K | 2.3M | 1.8M | 1.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: FGEN as "Hold", INSM as "Buy", RARE as "Buy", PTCT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 273.3% upside for FGEN (target: $28) vs 39.0% for PTCT (target: $90). FGEN is the only dividend payer here at 0.30% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.00 | $217.11 | $51.50 | $89.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 35 | 33 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.02 | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
PTCT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). INSM leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
FGEN vs INSM vs RARE vs PTCT: Key Questions Answered
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
(PTCT) is the stronger pick with 114. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -36. 7% for FibroGen, Inc. (FGEN). PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTCT) offers the better valuation at 8. 3x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Insmed Incorporated (INSM) a "Buy" — based on 35 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 — FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT?
Over the past 5 years, Insmed Incorporated (INSM) delivered a total return of +221.
7%, compared to -98. 5% for FibroGen, Inc. (FGEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: INSM returned +793. 5% versus FGEN's -98. 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 — FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Insmed Incorporated (INSM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
54β versus FibroGen, Inc. 's 1. 58β — meaning FGEN is approximately 194% more volatile than INSM relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
(PTCT) is pulling ahead at 114. 5% versus -36. 7% for FibroGen, Inc. (FGEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: PTC Therapeutics, Inc. grew EPS 264. 5% year-over-year, compared to -15. 1% for Insmed Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, PTCT leads at 35. 3% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT?
PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
(PTCT) is the more profitable company, earning 39. 4% net margin versus -210. 5% for Insmed Incorporated — meaning it keeps 39. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PTCT leads at 49. 5% versus -507. 8% for FGEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PTCT leads at 95. 9%, 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 — FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT?
In this comparison, FGEN (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. INSM, RARE, PTCT do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is FGEN or INSM or RARE or PTCT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Insmed Incorporated (INSM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
54), +793. 5% 10Y return). FibroGen, Inc. (FGEN) carries a higher beta of 1. 58 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (INSM: +793. 5%, FGEN: -98. 2%), 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 FGEN and INSM and RARE and PTCT?
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: FGEN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; INSM is a mid-cap high-growth stock; RARE is a small-cap high-growth stock; PTCT 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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