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KALV vs AGEN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
KALV vs AGEN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $1.37B | $132M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $15M | $114M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-210M | $115K |
| Gross Margin | -17.2% | 35.7% |
| Operating Margin | -13.4% | -17.7% |
| Forward P/E | — | 1.8x |
| Total Debt | $6M | $10M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $99M | $3M |
KALV vs AGEN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| KalVista Pharmaceut… (KALV) | 100 | 237.5 | +137.5% |
| Agenus Inc. (AGEN) | 100 | 5.0 | -95.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: KALV vs AGEN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
KALV is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.82
- 154.5% 10Y total return vs AGEN's -94.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.82, Low D/E 6.6%, current ratio 5.35x
AGEN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 10.4%, EPS growth 100.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 5.2%
- 10.4% revenue growth vs KALV's -34.5%
- 0.1% margin vs KALV's -13.9%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 10.4% revenue growth vs KALV's -34.5% | |
| Quality / Margins | 0.1% margin vs KALV's -13.9% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.82 vs AGEN's 2.72 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +118.1% vs AGEN's +27.1% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.1% ROA vs KALV's -77.7% |
KALV vs AGEN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
KALV vs AGEN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AGEN leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AGEN is the larger business by revenue, generating $114M annually — 7.6x KALV's $15M. AGEN is the more profitable business, keeping 0.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to KALV's -13.9%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15M | $114M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$202M | -$10M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$210M | $115,000 |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$160M | -$159M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -17.2% | +35.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -13.4% | -17.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -13.9% | +0.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -10.6% | -139.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +27.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.1% | +85.3% |
Valuation Metrics
AGEN leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.4B | $132M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $140M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -7.24x | -1102.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 1.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 1.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 13.91x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
AGEN leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AGEN scores 6/9 vs KALV's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.8% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -77.7% | +0.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -152.3% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -89.9% | — |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.07x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$92M | $7M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $99M | $3M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6M | $10M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -13.75x | 1.11x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
KALV leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in KALV five years ago would be worth $10,595 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $611 for AGEN. Over the past 12 months, KALV leads with a +118.1% total return vs AGEN's +27.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors KALV at 41.0% vs AGEN's -51.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +72.8% | +16.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +118.1% | +27.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +180.1% | -88.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +5.9% | -93.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +154.5% | -94.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +41.0% | -51.0% |
Risk & Volatility
KALV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
KALV is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGEN's 2.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. KALV currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs AGEN's 51.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 2.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.84 | $7.34 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.83 | $2.71 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.5% | +51.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 75.4 | 48.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.0M | 814K |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates KALV as "Buy" and AGEN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 95.5% upside for AGEN (target: $7) vs 6.7% for KALV (target: $29).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.50 | $7.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.1% |
AGEN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). KALV leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
KALV vs AGEN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is KALV or AGEN a better buy right now?
Analysts rate KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(KALV) a "Buy" — based on 13 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 — KALV or AGEN?
Over the past 5 years, KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(KALV) delivered a total return of +5. 9%, compared to -93. 9% for Agenus Inc. (AGEN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KALV returned +154. 5% versus AGEN's -94. 3%. 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 — KALV or AGEN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(KALV) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 82β versus Agenus Inc. 's 2. 72β — meaning AGEN is approximately 230% more volatile than KALV relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — KALV or AGEN?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Agenus Inc.
grew EPS 100. 0% year-over-year, compared to -7. 3% for KalVista Pharmaceuticals, 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 — KALV or AGEN?
Agenus Inc.
(AGEN) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 1% net margin versus -1391. 1% for KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AGEN leads at -18. 0% versus -1343. 0% for KALV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGEN leads at 90. 3%, 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.
06Is KALV or AGEN more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGEN: 95.
5% to $7. 33.
07Which pays a better dividend — KALV or AGEN?
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.
08Is KALV or AGEN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(KALV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 82), +154. 5% 10Y return). Agenus Inc. (AGEN) carries a higher beta of 2. 72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (KALV: +154. 5%, AGEN: -94. 3%), 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.
09What are the main differences between KALV and AGEN?
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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