Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
GELS vs AQST
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
GELS vs AQST — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| Market Cap | $5M | $516M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $148K | $45M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-4M | $-84M |
| Gross Margin | 100.0% | 58.3% |
| Operating Margin | -87.7% | -159.5% |
| Total Debt | $4M | $131M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $25K | $121M |
GELS vs AQST — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Oct 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelteq Limited Ordi… (GELS) | 100 | 18.2 | -81.8% |
| Aquestive Therapeut… (AQST) | 100 | 77.0 | -23.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: GELS vs AQST
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
GELS is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.16
- Lower volatility, beta 1.16, Low D/E 25.4%, current ratio 0.08x
- Beta 1.16, current ratio 0.08x
AQST carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth -22.6%, EPS growth -49.0%, 3Y rev CAGR -2.2%
- -73.6% 10Y total return vs GELS's -84.1%
- -22.6% revenue growth vs GELS's -100.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -22.6% revenue growth vs GELS's -100.0% | |
| Quality / Margins | -188.1% margin vs GELS's -27.4% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.16 vs AQST's 1.30 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +54.9% vs GELS's -66.5% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -19.5% ROA vs AQST's -64.5% |
GELS vs AQST — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
GELS vs AQST — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AQST leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AQST is the larger business by revenue, generating $45M annually — 301.9x GELS's $147,535. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -188.1% (AQST) to -27.4% (GELS). On growth, GELS holds the edge at +100.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $147,535 | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$12M | -$70M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$4M | -$84M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$2M | -$53M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +58.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -87.7% | -159.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -27.4% | -188.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -12.4% | -119.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +100.0% | +9.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -36.8% |
Valuation Metrics
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $5M | $516M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $8M | $527M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | — | -5.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 11.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
GELS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GELS scores 2/9 vs AQST's 1/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -26.8% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -19.5% | -64.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -11.1% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -15.5% | -72.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 1 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.25x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $4M | $10M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $24,522 | $121M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4M | $131M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -6.89x | -3.97x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AQST leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AQST five years ago would be worth $12,368 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,585 for GELS. Over the past 12 months, AQST leads with a +54.9% total return vs GELS's -66.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AQST at 23.4% vs GELS's -45.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -44.4% | -34.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -66.5% | +54.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.1% | +88.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.1% | +23.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.1% | -73.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -45.9% | +23.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — GELS and AQST each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
GELS is the less volatile stock with a 1.16 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AQST's 1.30 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AQST currently trades 56.0% from its 52-week high vs GELS's 13.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.16x | 1.30x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.51 | $7.55 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.44 | $2.12 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +13.3% | +56.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 24.0 | 54.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 18K | 1.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $9.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
AQST leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). GELS leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
GELS vs AQST: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GELS or AQST a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
(AQST) is the stronger pick with -22. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares (GELS). Analysts rate Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (AQST) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 — GELS or AQST?
Over the past 5 years, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
(AQST) delivered a total return of +23. 7%, compared to -84. 1% for Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares (GELS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AQST returned -73. 6% versus GELS's -84. 1%. 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 — GELS or AQST?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares (GELS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
16β versus Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. 's 1. 30β — meaning AQST is approximately 12% more volatile than GELS relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — GELS or AQST?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
(AQST) is pulling ahead at -22. 6% versus -100. 0% for Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares (GELS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares grew EPS 100. 0% year-over-year, compared to -49. 0% for Aquestive 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 — GELS or AQST?
Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.
(AQST) is the more profitable company, earning -188. 1% net margin versus -27. 4% for Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares — meaning it keeps -188. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AQST leads at -159. 5% versus -87. 7% for GELS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GELS leads at 100. 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 — GELS or AQST?
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 GELS or AQST better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Gelteq Limited Ordinary Shares (GELS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
16)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GELS: -84. 1%, AQST: -73. 6%), 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 GELS and AQST?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.