IRWD
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Market Cap$680M
5Y Perf.-57.1%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
IRWD vs PRGO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PRGO
Perrigo Company plc
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Market Cap$1.61B
5Y Perf.-78.6%
IRWD vs PRGO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | IRWD | PRGO |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| Market Cap | $680M | $1.61B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $362M | $4.18B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $151M | $-1.82B |
| Gross Margin | 70.4% | 34.2% |
| Operating Margin | 55.3% | -4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 3.1x | 5.6x |
| Total Debt | $598M | $3.97B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $215M | $532M |
IRWD vs PRGO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
IRWD
PRGO
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ironwood Pharmaceut… (IRWD) | 100 | 42.9 | -57.1% |
| Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) | 100 | 21.4 | -78.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: IRWD vs PRGO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IRWD leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Perrigo Company plc is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
IRWD
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
IRWD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- -59.2% 10Y total return vs PRGO's -77.7%
- Lower P/E (3.1x vs 5.6x)
- 41.8% margin vs PRGO's -43.5%
Best for: long-term compounding
PRGO
Perrigo Company plc
The Income Pick
PRGO is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 10 yrs, beta 1.18, yield 9.8%
- Rev growth -2.8%, EPS growth -7.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -1.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.18, current ratio 2.76x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PRGO | -2.8% revenue growth vs IRWD's -15.7% |
| Value | IRWD | Lower P/E (3.1x vs 5.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | IRWD | 41.8% margin vs PRGO's -43.5% |
| Stability / Safety | PRGO | Beta 1.18 vs IRWD's 2.50 |
| Dividends | PRGO | 9.8% yield; 10-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | IRWD | +426.5% vs PRGO's -51.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | IRWD | 38.5% ROA vs PRGO's -19.8%, ROIC 54.0% vs 3.7% |
IRWD vs PRGO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
IRWD vs PRGO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIRWDLAGGINGPRGO
PRGOPerrigo Company plc
1leads
IRWDIronwood Pharmaceutic…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PRGOMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IRWD6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PRGO3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
IRWD7/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IRWD leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRGO is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.2B annually — 11.6x IRWD's $362M. IRWD is the more profitable business, keeping 41.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PRGO's -43.5%. On growth, IRWD holds the edge at +158.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | IRWDIronwood Pharmace… | PRGOPerrigo Company p… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $362M | $4.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $201M | $58M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $151M | -$1.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $112M | $108M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.4% | +34.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +55.3% | -4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +41.8% | -43.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +31.0% | +2.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +158.9% | -7.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.0% | -56.4% |
IRWD leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PRGO leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, PRGO's 7.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than IRWD's 8.8x.
| Metric | IRWDIronwood Pharmace… | PRGOPerrigo Company p… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $680M | $1.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.1B | $5.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 27.80x | -1.14x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.14x | 5.56x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.81x | 7.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.30x | 0.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 0.55x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 5.35x | 11.12x |
PRGO leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
IRWD leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), IRWD scores 6/9 vs PRGO's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | IRWDIronwood Pharmace… | PRGOPerrigo Company p… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -50.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +38.5% | -19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +54.0% | +3.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +50.9% | +4.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 1.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $382M | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $215M | $532M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $598M | $4.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.43x | -7.20x |
IRWD leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — IRWD and PRGO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PRGO five years ago would be worth $3,986 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,800 for IRWD. Over the past 12 months, IRWD leads with a +426.5% total return vs PRGO's -51.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PRGO at -25.2% vs IRWD's -26.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | IRWDIronwood Pharmace… | PRGOPerrigo Company p… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -2.3% | -13.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +426.5% | -51.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.3% | -58.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -62.0% | -60.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -59.2% | -77.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.5% | -25.2% |
Evenly matched — IRWD and PRGO each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — IRWD and PRGO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PRGO is the less volatile stock with a 1.18 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than IRWD's 2.50 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IRWD currently trades 72.1% from its 52-week high vs PRGO's 41.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | IRWDIronwood Pharmace… | PRGOPerrigo Company p… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.50x | 1.18x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $5.78 | $28.44 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.53 | $9.23 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.1% | +41.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 68.4 | 60.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.5M | 3.4M |
Evenly matched — IRWD and PRGO each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates IRWD as "Hold" and PRGO as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 70.6% upside for PRGO (target: $20) vs 15.1% for IRWD (target: $5). PRGO is the only dividend payer here at 9.81% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | IRWDIronwood Pharmace… | PRGOPerrigo Company p… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $4.80 | $20.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 30 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +9.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.15 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
IRWD leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PRGO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Best OverallIronwood Pharmaceuticals, I… (IRWD)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
IRWD vs PRGO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is IRWD or PRGO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) is the stronger pick with -2.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -15. 7% for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD). Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD) offers the better valuation at 27. 8x trailing P/E (3. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD) a "Hold" — based on 30 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 has the better valuation — IRWD or PRGO?
On forward P/E, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 3. 1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — IRWD or PRGO?
Over the past 5 years, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) delivered a total return of -60.
1%, compared to -62. 0% for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IRWD returned -59. 2% versus PRGO's -77. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — IRWD or PRGO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
18β versus Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 's 2. 50β — meaning IRWD is approximately 111% more volatile than PRGO relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — IRWD or PRGO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) is pulling ahead at -2.
8% versus -15. 7% for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD). Over a 3-year CAGR, PRGO leads at -1. 5% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — IRWD or PRGO?
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(IRWD) is the more profitable company, earning 8. 1% net margin versus -33. 5% for Perrigo Company plc — meaning it keeps 8. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: IRWD leads at 40. 1% versus 8. 1% for PRGO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IRWD leads at 99. 4%, 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.
07Is IRWD or PRGO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(IRWD) trades at 3. 1x forward P/E versus 5. 6x for Perrigo Company plc — 2. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRGO: 70. 6% to $20. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — IRWD or PRGO?
In this comparison, PRGO (9.
8% yield) pays a dividend. IRWD does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is IRWD or PRGO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
18), 9. 8% yield). Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD) carries a higher beta of 2. 50 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PRGO: -77. 7%, IRWD: -59. 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.
10What are the main differences between IRWD and PRGO?
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: IRWD is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PRGO is a small-cap income-oriented stock. PRGO pays a dividend while IRWD does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.
Revenue Growth>
%
(IRWD: 158.9% · PRGO: -7.2%)You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.