Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) vs XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) 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 |  XOMA | 498.7% revenue growth vs LGND's 27.3% |
| Value |  LGND | Lower P/E (23.8x vs 38.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | XOMA | 41.1% net margin vs LGND's 19.3% |
| Stability / Safety | LGND | Beta 0.82 vs XOMA's 0.82, lower leverage |
| Dividends | XOMA | 1.8% yield; LGND pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LGND | +75.3% vs XOMA's +21.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | XOMA | 7.3% ROA vs LGND's 3.3%, ROIC -37.6% vs -2.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
LGNDDividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.82
Growth exposure
XOMARev growth 498.7%, EPS growth 59.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -9.3%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
LGND102.2% 10Y total return vs XOMA's 55.7%
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.
XOMA Royalty Corp is a biotechnology royalty aggregator that acquires future economic rights to pre-commercial therapeutic candidates licensed to pharmaceutical partners. It generates revenue primarily through milestone payments and royalties from its portfolio of approximately 70 early to mid-stage clinical assets—typically earning a percentage of future drug sales if the therapies succeed. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in evaluating clinical-stage assets and structuring royalty agreements that provide diversified exposure to potential blockbuster drugs without bearing development costs.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
LGND 5XOMA 0LGND4/6 metricsLGND7/9 metricsLGND6/6 metricsLGND1/1 metricsLGND1/1 metricsLGND leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LGND is the larger business by revenue, generating $251M annually — 5.3x XOMA's $47M. XOMA is the more profitable business, keeping 41.1% 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… | XOMAXOMA Royalty Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $251M | $47M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $52M | $22M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $49M | $19M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $31M | $5M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +85.9% | +93.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.3% | +41.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +11.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +122.8% | +29.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.6% | +144.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | XOMAXOMA Royalty Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.0B | $305M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.9B | $323M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -918.58x | -15.48x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 23.80x | 38.35x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 309.27x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 23.77x | 10.72x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.45x | 3.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 51.32x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
XOMA delivers a 17.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $18 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 XOMA's 1.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LGND scores 5/9 vs XOMA's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | XOMAXOMA Royalty Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | +17.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +7.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.3% | -37.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -2.7% | -19.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.01x | 1.46x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$65M | $18M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $72M | $102M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $7M | $119M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 22.69x | 0.67x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in LGND five years ago would be worth $14,261 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,225 for XOMA. Over the past 12 months, LGND leads with a +75.3% total return vs XOMA's +21.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LGND at 41.4% vs XOMA's 6.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | XOMAXOMA Royalty Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +6.3% | -8.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +75.3% | +21.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +182.6% | +19.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +42.6% | -27.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +102.2% | +55.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +41.4% | +6.2% |
Risk & Volatility
LGND is the less volatile stock with a 0.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than XOMA's 0.82 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LGND currently trades 95.1% from its 52-week high vs XOMA's 64.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | XOMAXOMA Royalty Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.82x | 0.82x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $212.49 | $39.92 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.58 | $18.35 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.1% | +64.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.9 | 49.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 172K | 478K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LGND as "Buy" and XOMA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 167.2% upside for XOMA (target: $68) vs 22.7% for LGND (target: $248). XOMA is the only dividend payer here at 1.83% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… | XOMAXOMA Royalty Corp. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $248.00 | $68.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 10 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.47 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 100 | 187.33 | +87.3% |
| XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) | 100 | 103.07 | +3.1% |
Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) returned +43% over 5 years vs XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA)'s -28%. A $10,000 investment in LGND 5 years ago would be worth $14,261 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | $72M | $167M | +132.4% |
| XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) | $55M | $28M | -48.6% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's revenue grew from $72M (2015) to $167M (2024) — a 9.8% CAGR. XOMA Royalty Corp.'s revenue grew from $55M (2015) to $28M (2024) — a -7.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 3.6% | -2.4% | -167.4% |
| XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) | -37.2% | -48.5% | -30.6% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's net margin went from 4% (2015) to -2% (2024). XOMA Royalty Corp.'s net margin went from -37% (2015) to -49% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 6 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 258.4 | 24.3 | -90.6% |
| XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) | 48.8 | 32.1 | -34.2% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has traded in a 3x–258x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-919x. XOMA Royalty Corp. has traded in a 32x–57x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-15x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 12.12 | -0.22 | -101.8% |
| XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) | -3.5 | -1.65 | +52.9% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's EPS grew from $12.12 (2015) to $-0.22 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR. XOMA Royalty Corp.'s EPS grew from $-3.50 (2015) to $-1.65 (2024).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $77M FCF in 2024 (+11% vs 2021). XOMA Royalty Corp. generated $-14M FCF in 2024 (-260% vs 2021).
LGND vs XOMA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LGND or XOMA a better buy right now?
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 is the better long-term investment — LGND or XOMA?
Over the past 5 years, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) delivered a total return of +42.6%, compared to -27.8% for XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA). A $10,000 investment in LGND five years ago would be worth approximately $14K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LGND returned +102.2% versus XOMA's +55.7%. 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 — LGND or XOMA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) is the lower-risk stock at 0.82β versus XOMA Royalty Corp.'s 0.82β — meaning XOMA is approximately 0% 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 146% for XOMA Royalty Corp. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — LGND or XOMA?
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) is the more profitable company, earning -2.4% net margin versus -48.5% for XOMA Royalty Corp. — meaning it keeps -2.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LGND leads at -13.5% versus -140.3% for XOMA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XOMA leads at 99.3%, 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.
05Is LGND or XOMA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) trades at 23.8x forward P/E versus 38.3x for XOMA Royalty Corp. — 14.5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XOMA: 167.2% to $68.25.
06Which pays a better dividend — LGND or XOMA?
In this comparison, XOMA (1.8% yield) pays a dividend. LGND does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is LGND or XOMA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, XOMA Royalty Corp. (XOMA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.82), 1.8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOMA: +55.7%, LGND: +102.2%), 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.
08What are the main differences between LGND and XOMA?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. XOMA pays a dividend while LGND 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.
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