Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) 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 | AGIO | 48.0% revenue growth vs MOH's 11.7% |
| Quality / Margins | MOH | 1.0% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AGIO | Lower D/E ratio (3.4% vs 97.1%) |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AGIO | -14.9% vs MOH's -48.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | MOH | 3.0% ROA vs AGIO's -29.0%, ROIC 17.4% vs -26.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Molina Healthcare is a managed care organization that provides health insurance to low-income families and individuals through government-sponsored programs. It generates revenue primarily from Medicaid premiums (roughly 80% of revenue), Medicare Advantage plans, and Marketplace exchange plans — receiving capitated payments from government agencies for each member enrolled. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise serving the complex Medicaid population and its established state-level contracts that create significant regulatory and operational barriers to entry.
Agios Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases related to cellular metabolism. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its lead drug PYRUKYND for pyruvate kinase deficiency — with additional income from research collaborations and milestone payments — while advancing a pipeline of other metabolic therapies. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in cellular metabolism science and proprietary platform for targeting metabolic pathways in rare diseases.
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
AGIO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). MOH leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MOH is the larger business by revenue, generating $45.4B annually — 1014.2x AGIO's $45M. MOH is the more profitable business, keeping 1.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, AGIO holds the edge at +43.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | MOHMolina Healthcare… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $45.4B | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $976M | -$470M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $472M | -$401M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$636M | -$414M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +84.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.7% | -10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.0% | -9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -1.4% | -9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.3% | +43.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -172.4% | -111.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MOHMolina Healthcare… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.9B | $2.25T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.6B | $2.25T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.27x | -4.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.93x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.82x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.17x | 9999.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.00x | 1.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
MOH delivers a 11.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $-31 for AGIO. AGIO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MOH's 0.97x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MOH scores 4/9 vs AGIO's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | MOHMolina Healthcare… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.6% | -31.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | -29.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +17.4% | -26.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.8% | -33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.97x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$298M | -$49M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $4.2B | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4.0B | $40M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.07x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in MOH five years ago would be worth $6,932 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,363 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, AGIO leads with a -14.9% total return vs MOH's -48.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AGIO at 6.1% vs MOH's -17.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MOHMolina Healthcare… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.7% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -48.8% | -14.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -44.0% | +19.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -30.7% | -36.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +148.3% | -21.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.6% | +6.1% |
Risk & Volatility
MOH is the less volatile stock with a -0.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGIO's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AGIO currently trades 65.7% from its 52-week high vs MOH's 42.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MOHMolina Healthcare… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.01x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $359.97 | $46.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $121.06 | $22.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +42.8% | +65.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.5 | 62.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 948K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates MOH as "Buy" and AGIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 37.3% upside for AGIO (target: $42) vs 0.5% for MOH (target: $155).
| Metric | MOHMolina Healthcare… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $154.82 | $41.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 38 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +12.6% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molina Healthcare, … (MOH) | 100 | 142.3 | +42.3% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 57.07 | -42.9% |
Molina Healthcare, … (MOH) returned -31% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molina Healthcare, … (MOH) | $17.7B | $45.4B | +156.5% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
Molina Healthcare, Inc.'s revenue grew from $17.7B (2016) to $45.4B (2025) — a 11.0% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $70M (2016) to $54M (2025) — a -2.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molina Healthcare, … (MOH) | 0.0% | 1.0% | +2198.9% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
Molina Healthcare, Inc.'s net margin went from 0% (2016) to 1% (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2018 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molina Healthcare, … (MOH) | 11 | 19.5 | +77.3% |
Molina Healthcare, Inc. has traded in a 11x–28x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~17x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molina Healthcare, … (MOH) | 0.92 | 8.92 | +869.6% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
Molina Healthcare, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.92 (2016) to $8.92 (2025) — a 29% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Molina Healthcare, Inc. generated $-636M FCF in 2025 (-131% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
MOH vs AGIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MOH or AGIO a better buy right now?
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) offers the better valuation at 17.3x trailing P/E (22.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) a "Buy" — based on 38 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 — MOH or AGIO?
Over the past 5 years, Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) delivered a total return of -30.7%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in MOH five years ago would be worth approximately $7K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MOH returned +148.3% versus AGIO's -21.2%. 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 — MOH or AGIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) is the lower-risk stock at -0.01β versus Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.91β — meaning AGIO is approximately -6956% more volatile than MOH relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 97% for Molina Healthcare, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — MOH or AGIO?
Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) is the more profitable company, earning 1.0% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MOH leads at 1.7% versus -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGIO leads at 88.3%, 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 MOH or AGIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGIO: 37.3% to $41.50.
06Which pays a better dividend — MOH or AGIO?
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 MOH or AGIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Molina Healthcare, Inc. (MOH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.01), +148.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MOH: +148.3%, AGIO: -21.2%), 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 MOH and AGIO?
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: MOH is a small-cap deep-value stock; AGIO is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. 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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