Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) vs Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  LGND | 27.3% revenue growth vs AAPL's 6.4% |
| Value | LGND | Lower P/E (24.6x vs 31.0x) |
| Quality / Margins |  AAPL | 27.0% net margin vs LGND's 19.3% |
| Stability / Safety | LGND | Beta 0.82 vs AAPL's 1.28, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAPL | 0.4% yield; 14-year raise streak; LGND pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LGND | +81.1% vs AAPL's +11.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AAPL | 31.1% ROA vs LGND's 3.3%, ROIC 64.5% vs -2.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
LGNDDividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.82
Growth exposure
LGNDRev growth 27.3%, EPS growth -107.5%, 3Y rev CAGR -11.6%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
AAPL9.6% 10Y total return vs LGND's 104.3%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
LGNDLower volatility, beta 0.82, Low D/E 0.9%, current ratio 8.93x
Defensive / Recession hedge
LGNDBeta 0.82, current ratio 8.93x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Ligand Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and acquires drug discovery technologies and royalty-bearing assets for pharmaceutical partners. It generates revenue primarily through royalties from partnered drug sales — including blockbusters like Kyprolis and Veklury — supplemented by milestone payments and contract research services. Its key competitive advantage lies in its diversified portfolio of royalty streams and its Captisol drug formulation technology, which creates multiple revenue sources from single platform innovations.
Apple is a technology giant that designs and sells premium consumer electronics — most famously the iPhone — along with related software and services. It generates revenue primarily from hardware sales (roughly 80% of total) and a fast-growing services segment (around 20%) that includes the App Store, subscriptions, and licensing. Its key competitive advantage is a powerful ecosystem that locks users into its hardware, software, and services through seamless integration and high switching costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
LGND 2AAPL 2AAPL5/8 metricsLGND4/6 metricsLGND2/2 metricsAAPL1/1 metricsAAPL leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). LGND leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AAPL is the larger business by revenue, generating $435.6B annually — 1733.9x LGND's $251M. AAPL is the more profitable business, keeping 27.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LGND's 19.3%. On growth, LGND holds the edge at +122.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $251M | $435.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $52M | $152.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $49M | $117.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $31M | $123.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.9% | +47.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +32.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.3% | +27.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +28.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +122.8% | +15.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.6% | +18.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AAPL's 27.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LGND's 319.9x.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.1B | $3.86T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $3.95T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -949.77x | 35.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 24.61x | 30.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.97x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 319.95x | 27.29x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 24.57x | 9.27x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.60x | 53.42x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 53.06x | 39.08x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AAPL delivers a 133.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $134 in annual profit, vs $5 for LGND. LGND carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAPL's 1.67x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AAPL scores 7/9 vs LGND's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +133.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +31.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.3% | +64.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.7% | +69.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 1.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$65M | $89.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $72M | $33.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7M | $123.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 22.69x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth $22,020 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,470 for LGND. Over the past 12 months, LGND leads with a +81.1% total return vs AAPL's +11.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LGND at 43.0% vs AAPL's 20.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +9.9% | -3.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +81.1% | +11.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +192.2% | +72.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +44.7% | +120.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +104.3% | +963.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +43.0% | +20.0% |
Risk & Volatility
LGND is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AAPL's 1.28 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LGND currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs AAPL's 91.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 1.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $212.49 | $288.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.58 | $169.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.3% | +91.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.3 | 47.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 198K | 46.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LGND as "Buy" and AAPL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 18.7% upside for LGND (target: $248) vs 15.5% for AAPL (target: $303). AAPL is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | AAPLApple Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $248.00 | $303.11 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 109 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.4% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 100 | 189.96 | +90.0% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 100 | 361.49 | +261.5% |
Apple Inc. (AAPL) returned +120% over 5 years vs Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND)'s +45%. A $10,000 investment in AAPL 5 years ago would be worth $22,020 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | $109M | $167M | +53.4% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | $215.6B | $416.2B | +93.0% |
Apple Inc.'s revenue grew from $215.6B (2016) to $416.2B (2025) — a 7.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | -1.5% | -2.4% | -60.7% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 21.2% | 26.9% | +27.0% |
Apple Inc.'s net margin went from 21% (2016) to 27% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 258.4 | 24.3 | -90.6% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 18.4 | 36.4 | +97.8% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has traded in a 3x–258x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-950x. Apple Inc. has traded in a 13x–41x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~35x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | -0.08 | -0.22 | -180.3% |
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | 2.08 | 7.46 | +258.7% |
Apple Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.08 (2016) to $7.46 (2025) — a 15% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $77M FCF in 2024 (+11% vs 2021). Apple Inc. generated $99B FCF in 2025 (+6% vs 2021).
LGND vs AAPL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGND or AAPL a better buy right now?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) offers the better valuation at 35.2x trailing P/E (31.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 — LGND or AAPL?
On forward P/E, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is actually cheaper at 24.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LGND or AAPL?
Over the past 5 years, Apple Inc. (AAPL) delivered a total return of +120.2%, compared to +44.7% for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND). A $10,000 investment in AAPL five years ago would be worth approximately $22K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AAPL returned +963.0% versus LGND's +104.3%. 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 — LGND or AAPL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) is the lower-risk stock at 0.82β versus Apple Inc.'s 1.28β — meaning AAPL is approximately 57% more volatile than LGND relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 167% for Apple Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — LGND or AAPL?
Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the more profitable company, earning 26.9% net margin versus -2.4% for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — meaning it keeps 26.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AAPL leads at 32.0% versus -13.5% for LGND. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LGND leads at 93.4%, 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.
06Is LGND or AAPL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) trades at 24.6x forward P/E versus 31.0x for Apple Inc. — 6.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LGND: 18.7% to $248.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — LGND or AAPL?
In this comparison, AAPL (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. LGND does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is LGND or AAPL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Apple Inc. (AAPL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.28), +963.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AAPL: +963.0%, LGND: +104.3%), 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 LGND and AAPL?
These companies operate in different sectors (LGND (Healthcare) and AAPL (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. 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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