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MESO vs CYTK
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
MESO vs CYTK — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $1.91B | $9.15B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $17M | $106M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-102M | $-830M |
| Gross Margin | -208.5% | 90.3% |
| Operating Margin | -6.4% | -6.1% |
| Total Debt | $128M | $1.28B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $161M | $882M |
MESO vs CYTK — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesoblast Limited (MESO) | 100 | 57.7 | -42.3% |
| Cytokinetics, Incor… (CYTK) | 100 | 358.7 | +258.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MESO vs CYTK
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
MESO is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 191.4%, EPS growth 5.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 19.0%
- -5.9% margin vs CYTK's -7.8%
- -13.0% ROA vs CYTK's -61.9%, ROIC -8.5% vs -305.3%
CYTK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.66
- 8.2% 10Y total return vs MESO's -2.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.66, current ratio 4.53x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 376.6% revenue growth vs MESO's 191.4% | |
| Quality / Margins | -5.9% margin vs CYTK's -7.8% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.66 vs MESO's 1.70 | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +124.8% vs MESO's +33.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -13.0% ROA vs CYTK's -61.9%, ROIC -8.5% vs -305.3% |
MESO vs CYTK — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
MESO vs CYTK — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — MESO and CYTK each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CYTK is the larger business by revenue, generating $106M annually — 6.2x MESO's $17M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -5.9% (MESO) to -7.8% (CYTK). On growth, CYTK holds the edge at +11.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17M | $106M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$106M | -$633M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$102M | -$830M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$49M | -$549M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -2.1% | +90.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -6.4% | -6.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -5.9% | -7.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.8% | -5.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.6% | +11.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +16.0% | -22.8% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — MESO and CYTK each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.9B | $9.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.9B | $9.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -17.62x | -11.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 111.04x | 103.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.99x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
MESO leads this category, winning 7 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MESO scores 5/9 vs CYTK's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -17.1% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -13.0% | -61.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -8.5% | -3.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -9.8% | -50.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.21x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$33M | $402M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $161M | $882M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $128M | $1.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -5.84x | -11.39x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CYTK leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CYTK five years ago would be worth $30,660 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,602 for MESO. Over the past 12 months, CYTK leads with a +124.8% total return vs MESO's +33.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MESO at 29.5% vs CYTK's 24.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -18.5% | +20.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +33.9% | +124.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +117.0% | +93.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +6.0% | +206.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -2.1% | +817.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +29.5% | +24.6% |
Risk & Volatility
CYTK leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CYTK is the less volatile stock with a 0.66 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MESO's 1.70 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CYTK currently trades 92.6% from its 52-week high vs MESO's 68.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.70x | 0.66x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $21.50 | $80.20 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.88 | $29.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.8% | +92.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 53.7 | 67.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 256K | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MESO as "Buy" and CYTK as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 24.5% upside for CYTK (target: $93) vs -22.3% for MESO (target: $12).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $11.50 | $92.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
CYTK leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). MESO leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
MESO vs CYTK: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MESO or CYTK a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Cytokinetics, Incorporated (CYTK) is the stronger pick with 376.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 191. 4% for Mesoblast Limited (MESO). Analysts rate Mesoblast Limited (MESO) 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 — MESO or CYTK?
Over the past 5 years, Cytokinetics, Incorporated (CYTK) delivered a total return of +206.
6%, compared to +6. 0% for Mesoblast Limited (MESO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CYTK returned +817. 2% versus MESO's -2. 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 — MESO or CYTK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cytokinetics, Incorporated (CYTK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
66β versus Mesoblast Limited's 1. 70β — meaning MESO is approximately 155% more volatile than CYTK relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — MESO or CYTK?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cytokinetics, Incorporated (CYTK) is pulling ahead at 376.
6% versus 191. 4% for Mesoblast Limited (MESO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Mesoblast Limited grew EPS 5. 6% year-over-year, compared to -24. 3% for Cytokinetics, Incorporated. Over a 3-year CAGR, MESO leads at 19. 0% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — MESO or CYTK?
Mesoblast Limited (MESO) is the more profitable company, earning -593.
9% net margin versus -891. 6% for Cytokinetics, Incorporated — meaning it keeps -593. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MESO leads at -363. 1% versus -695. 4% for CYTK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CYTK leads at 88. 5%, 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 — MESO or CYTK?
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 MESO or CYTK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cytokinetics, Incorporated (CYTK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
66), +817. 2% 10Y return). Mesoblast Limited (MESO) carries a higher beta of 1. 70 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CYTK: +817. 2%, MESO: -2. 1%), 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 MESO and CYTK?
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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