ICU
SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation
Biotechnology
Market Cap$29M
5Y Perf.-98.1%
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Stock Comparison
ICU vs AKBA
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AKBA
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$317M
5Y Perf.+273.4%
ICU vs AKBA — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ICU | AKBA |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $29M | $317M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $881K | $232M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-14M | $-21M |
| Gross Margin | 95.3% | 81.0% |
| Operating Margin | -15.8% | 2.3% |
| Total Debt | $574K | $216M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2M | $185M |
ICU vs AKBA — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ICU
AKBA
| Stock | Sep 22 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaStar Medical Hol… (ICU) | 100 | 1.9 | -98.1% |
| Akebia Therapeutics… (AKBA) | 100 | 373.4 | +273.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ICU vs AKBA
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ICU leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ICU
SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation
The Income Pick
ICU carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.06
- Rev growth 12.0%, EPS growth 78.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.06, current ratio 0.55x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
AKBA
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
AKBA is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- -85.7% 10Y total return vs ICU's -98.1%
- -8.8% margin vs ICU's -15.5%
- -5.7% ROA vs ICU's -88.0%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ICU | 12.0% revenue growth vs AKBA's 47.5% |
| Quality / Margins | AKBA | -8.8% margin vs ICU's -15.5% |
| Stability / Safety | ICU | Beta 1.06 vs AKBA's 1.14 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | ICU | +291.9% vs AKBA's -52.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AKBA | -5.7% ROA vs ICU's -88.0% |
ICU vs AKBA — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
ICU vs AKBA — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLAKBALAGGINGICU
ICUSeaStar Medical Holdi…
1leads
AKBAAkebia Therapeutics, …
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ICUMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
AKBA2/2
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AKBA4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ICU2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ICU and AKBA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AKBA is the larger business by revenue, generating $232M annually — 263.8x ICU's $881,000. AKBA is the more profitable business, keeping -8.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ICU's -15.5%. On growth, ICU holds the edge at +169.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ICUSeaStar Medical H… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $881,000 | $232M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$14M | $6M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$14M | -$21M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$14M | $60M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +95.3% | +81.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -15.8% | +2.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -15.5% | -8.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -16.1% | +25.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +169.1% | -6.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +88.2% | -2.2% |
Evenly matched — ICU and AKBA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
AKBA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICUSeaStar Medical H… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $29M | $317M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $28M | $348M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.73x | -56.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 14.05x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 215.18x | 1.34x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 9.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 4.66x |
AKBA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — ICU and AKBA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AKBA delivers a -62.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-63 in annual profit, vs $-119 for ICU. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ICU scores 6/9 vs AKBA's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ICUSeaStar Medical H… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -119.2% | -62.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -88.0% | -5.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +23.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +13.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 6.63x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$1M | $31M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2M | $185M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $574,000 | $216M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -209.88x | 0.56x |
Evenly matched — ICU and AKBA each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AKBA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AKBA five years ago would be worth $3,782 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $189 for ICU. Over the past 12 months, ICU leads with a +291.9% total return vs AKBA's -52.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AKBA at 3.6% vs ICU's -53.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ICUSeaStar Medical H… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +84.7% | -23.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +291.9% | -52.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -90.1% | +11.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.1% | -62.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.1% | -85.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -53.7% | +3.6% |
AKBA leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ICU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ICU is the less volatile stock with a 1.06 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AKBA's 1.14 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ICU currently trades 95.6% from its 52-week high vs AKBA's 28.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ICUSeaStar Medical H… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.06x | 1.14x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.08 | $4.08 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.22 | $1.13 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.6% | +28.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.7 | 55.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 150K | 2.8M |
ICU leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | ICUSeaStar Medical H… | AKBAAkebia Therapeuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $4.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
AKBA leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). ICU leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Best OverallAkebia Therapeutics, Inc. (AKBA)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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ICU vs AKBA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ICU or AKBA a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
(AKBA) a "Buy" — based on 11 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 — ICU or AKBA?
Over the past 5 years, Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
(AKBA) delivered a total return of -62. 2%, compared to -98. 1% for SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation (ICU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AKBA returned -85. 7% versus ICU's -98. 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 — ICU or AKBA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation (ICU) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
06β versus Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. 's 1. 14β — meaning AKBA is approximately 7% more volatile than ICU relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — ICU or AKBA?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
grew EPS 93. 7% year-over-year, compared to 78. 1% for SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation. 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 — ICU or AKBA?
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
(AKBA) is the more profitable company, earning -2. 3% net margin versus -183. 9% for SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation — meaning it keeps -2. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AKBA leads at 9. 9% versus -132. 2% for ICU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ICU 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 — ICU or AKBA?
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 ICU or AKBA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, SeaStar Medical Holding Corporation (ICU) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
06)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ICU: -98. 1%, AKBA: -85. 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.
08What are the main differences between ICU and AKBA?
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: ICU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AKBA 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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