Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NAUT) vs Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Stability / Safety |  CAI | Beta 1.09 vs NAUT's 1.71, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) |  NAUT | +118.3% vs CAI's -29.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NAUT | -31.3% ROA vs CAI's -47.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
CAIDividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.09
Growth exposure
NAUTEPS growth 16.1%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
CAI-29.1% 10Y total return vs NAUT's -74.9%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
CAILower volatility, beta 1.09, Low D/E 0.0%, current ratio 7.85x
Defensive / Recession hedge
CAIBeta 1.09, current ratio 7.85x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Nautilus Biotechnology is a life sciences company developing a proteomics platform to analyze proteins at unprecedented scale and depth. It aims to generate revenue through sales of its integrated platform — including instruments, consumables, and software — though it remains pre-revenue as it develops its technology. The company's potential moat lies in its proprietary single-molecule protein analysis technology, which could enable comprehensive proteome mapping that existing methods cannot achieve.
Caris Life Sciences is an AI-powered molecular diagnostics company that provides comprehensive cancer profiling services to guide treatment decisions. It generates revenue primarily from molecular testing services for oncology patients — including tissue-based and blood-based profiling — along with pharmaceutical research services for drug development partners. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive molecular database and proprietary AI algorithms that analyze complex biomarker data to deliver personalized cancer treatment insights.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NAUT 1CAI 1CAI4/6 metricsNAUT4/6 metricsCAI leads in 1 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency). NAUT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CAI and NAUT operate at a comparable scale, with $812M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $812M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$60M | $70M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$63M | -$538M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$54M | $33M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +46.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +5.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -66.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +4.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.4% | — |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $331M | $33.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $349M | $32.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.57x | -6.17x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 62.06x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 718.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 40.89x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.11x | 57.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 496.41x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NAUT delivers a -37.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-37 in annual profit, vs $-93 for CAI. CAI carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NAUT's 0.19x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CAI scores 5/9 vs NAUT's 1/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -37.1% | -93.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -31.3% | -47.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +7.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 0.00x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $18M | -$798M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $12M | $798M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30M | $169,000 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -2.23x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CAI five years ago would be worth $7,093 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,808 for NAUT. Over the past 12 months, NAUT leads with a +118.3% total return vs CAI's -29.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NAUT at 6.8% vs CAI's -10.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +37.2% | -26.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +118.3% | -29.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.9% | -29.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -81.9% | -29.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.9% | -29.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.8% | -10.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CAI is the less volatile stock with a 1.09 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NAUT's 1.71 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NAUT currently trades 85.1% from its 52-week high vs CAI's 46.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.71x | 1.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.08 | $42.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.62 | $17.15 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.1% | +46.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.4 | 38.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 197K | 2.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NAUT as "Buy" and CAI as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 57.8% upside for CAI (target: $31) vs -4.6% for NAUT (target: $3).
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $2.50 | $31.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 6 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nautilus Biotechnol… (NAUT) | $0.00 | $0.00 | — |
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | $294M | $812M | +175.9% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s revenue grew from $294M (2016) to $812M (2025) — a 11.9% CAGR.
Chart 2EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nautilus Biotechnol… (NAUT) | 87.18 | -0.47 | -100.5% |
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | 0.31 | -3.22 | -1138.7% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.31 (2016) to $-3.22 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 3Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. generated $-52M FCF in 2025 (-25% vs 2021). Caris Life Sciences, Inc. generated $67M FCF in 2025 (+120% vs 2022).
NAUT vs CAI: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NAUT or CAI a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NAUT) a "Buy" — based on 5 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 — NAUT or CAI?
Over the past 5 years, Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) delivered a total return of -29.1%, compared to -81.9% for Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NAUT). A $10,000 investment in CAI five years ago would be worth approximately $7K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CAI returned -29.1% versus NAUT's -74.9%. 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 — NAUT or CAI?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.09β versus Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc.'s 1.71β — meaning NAUT is approximately 56% more volatile than CAI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 19% for Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — NAUT or CAI?
Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NAUT) is the more profitable company, earning 0.0% net margin versus -66.2% for Caris Life Sciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CAI leads at 5.6% versus 0.0% for NAUT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CAI leads at 46.2%, 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 NAUT or CAI more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAI: 57.8% to $31.33.
06Which pays a better dividend — NAUT or CAI?
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 NAUT or CAI better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.09)). Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NAUT) carries a higher beta of 1.71 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAI: -29.1%, NAUT: -74.9%), 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 NAUT and CAI?
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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