Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Nautilus Biotechnology, Inc. (NAUT) vs Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) vs Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) vs Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation (ADPT) vs Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. (CDIO) 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 |  CDIO | 104.5% revenue growth vs ADPT's 5.1% |
| Value |  VCYT | Better valuation composite |
| Quality / Margins | VCYT | 12.8% net margin vs CDIO's -415.2% |
| Stability / Safety |  CAI | Beta 1.09 vs CDIO's 2.02, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) |  NAUT | +118.3% vs CDIO's -62.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VCYT | 4.7% ROA vs CDIO's -74.5%, ROIC 4.4% vs -222.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
CAIDividend streak 4 yrs, beta 1.09
Growth exposure
CDIORev growth 104.5%, EPS growth 53.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 238.3%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
VCYT443.8% 10Y total return vs CAI's -29.1%
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.
Veracyte is a molecular diagnostics company that develops genomic tests to improve cancer and other disease diagnosis and treatment decisions. It generates revenue primarily from diagnostic test sales — including its Afirma thyroid, Decipher prostate, and Percepta lung cancer tests — with additional income from technology licensing partnerships. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary genomic classifiers and biobank of clinical samples that enable development of clinically validated tests with strong physician adoption.
Adaptive Biotechnologies is a biotechnology company that develops immune medicine platforms for diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. It generates revenue primarily through its clinical diagnostics segment — including its clonoSEQ test for minimal residual disease monitoring — and its translational and clinical genomics research services, with diagnostics contributing roughly 60% of revenue. The company's key advantage lies in its proprietary immune medicine platform that maps and translates the genetics of the adaptive immune system into clinical diagnostics and therapies.
Cardio Diagnostics develops and commercializes epigenetics-based clinical tests for cardiovascular disease risk assessment. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its Epi+Gen CHD test—a three-year symptomatic coronary heart disease risk assessment—to healthcare providers and through laboratory services. The company's moat lies in its proprietary epigenetic technology platform that offers more personalized cardiovascular risk prediction than traditional methods.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 5 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
VCYT 2CAI 1NAUT 0
ADPT 0CDIO 0VCYT4/6 metricsVCYT4/6 metricsCAI5/9 metricsVCYT leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). CAI leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CAI and NAUT operate at a comparable scale, with $812M and $0 in trailing revenue. VCYT is the more profitable business, keeping 12.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CDIO's -415.2%. On growth, ADPT holds the edge at +102.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | ADPTAdaptive Biotechn… | CDIOCardio Diagnostic… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $812M | $517M | $253M | $15,782 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$60M | $70M | $74M | -$62M | -$6M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$63M | -$538M | $66M | -$80M | -$7M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$54M | $33M | $126M | -$63M | -$6M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +46.2% | +70.1% | +71.8% | -10.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +5.6% | +11.2% | -30.9% | -414.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -66.2% | +12.8% | -31.5% | -415.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +4.0% | +24.4% | -24.9% | -379.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — | +18.5% | +102.4% | -56.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +15.4% | — | +7.3% | +126.6% | -15.3% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, VCYT's 44.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CAI's 718.4x.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | ADPTAdaptive Biotechn… | CDIOCardio Diagnostic… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $331M | $33.2B | $2.9B | $2.5B | $141M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $349M | $32.4B | $2.6B | $2.5B | $135M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.57x | -6.17x | 44.23x | -15.22x | -0.57x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 62.06x | 22.03x | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 718.40x | 44.23x | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 40.89x | 5.57x | 14.02x | 4054.38x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.11x | 57.52x | 2.23x | 11.94x | 14.80x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 496.41x | 22.73x | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
VCYT delivers a 5.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 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 ADPT's 0.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VCYT scores 8/9 vs NAUT's 1/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | ADPTAdaptive Biotechn… | CDIOCardio Diagnostic… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -37.1% | -93.2% | +5.1% | -39.0% | -80.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -31.3% | -47.8% | +4.7% | -16.2% | -74.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | — | +4.4% | -41.6% | -2.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +7.7% | +4.5% | -32.0% | -123.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.19x | 0.00x | 0.03x | 0.44x | 0.10x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $18M | -$798M | -$323M | $41M | -$7M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $12M | $798M | $363M | $48M | $8M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30M | $169,000 | $40M | $89M | $969,863 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -2.23x | — | -6.25x | -418.04x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VCYT five years ago would be worth $7,634 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $179 for CDIO. Over the past 12 months, NAUT leads with a +118.3% total return vs CDIO's -62.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ADPT at 24.8% vs CDIO's -68.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | ADPTAdaptive Biotechn… | CDIOCardio Diagnostic… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +37.2% | -26.4% | -14.4% | +3.3% | +85.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +118.3% | -29.1% | +10.0% | +104.7% | -62.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +21.9% | -29.1% | +52.8% | +94.3% | -96.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -81.9% | -29.1% | -23.7% | -61.1% | -98.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.9% | -29.1% | +443.8% | -59.2% | -98.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +6.8% | -10.8% | +15.2% | +24.8% | -68.0% |
Risk & Volatility
CAI is the less volatile stock with a 1.09 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CDIO's 2.02 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 CDIO's 30.2% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NAUTNautilus Biotechn… | CAICaris Life Scienc… | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | ADPTAdaptive Biotechn… | CDIOCardio Diagnostic… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.71x | 1.09x | 1.12x | 1.31x | 2.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.08 | $42.50 | $50.71 | $20.76 | $17.39 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.62 | $17.15 | $22.61 | $6.26 | $0.97 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.1% | +46.7% | +71.5% | +79.2% | +30.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.4 | 38.4 | 39.9 | 46.2 | 64.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 197K | 2.3M | 807K | 1.8M | 3.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: NAUT as "Buy", CAI as "Buy", VCYT as "Buy", ADPT 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… | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | ADPTAdaptive Biotechn… | CDIOCardio Diagnostic… |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $2.50 | $31.33 | $47.25 | $21.25 | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 5 | 6 | 20 | 17 | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 4 | — | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 22 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nautilus Biotechnol… (NAUT) | 100 | 56.31 | -43.7% |
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | 100 | 115.27 | +15.3% |
| Adaptive Biotechnol… (ADPT) | 100 | 90.56 | -9.4% |
| Cardio Diagnostics … (CDIO) | 100.1 | 1.77 | -98.2% |
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) returned -24% over 5 years vs Cardio Diagnostics … (CDIO)'s -98%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nautilus Biotechnol… (NAUT) | $0.00 | $0.00 | — |
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | $294M | $812M | +175.9% |
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | $65M | $517M | +694.6% |
| Adaptive Biotechnol… (ADPT) | $38M | $179M | +365.5% |
| Cardio Diagnostics … (CDIO) | $0.00 | $34890.00 | — |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s revenue grew from $294M (2016) to $812M (2025) — a 11.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caris Life Sciences… (CAI) | 2.0% | -66.2% | -3351.8% |
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | -48.2% | 12.8% | +126.6% |
| Adaptive Biotechnol… (ADPT) | -111.4% | -89.1% | +20.0% |
| Cardio Diagnostics … (CDIO) | -688.6% | -240.3% | +65.1% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s net margin went from 2% (2016) to -66% (2025). Veracyte, Inc.'s net margin went from -48% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4EPS 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% |
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | -1.09 | 0.82 | +175.2% |
| Adaptive Biotechnol… (ADPT) | -0.41 | -1.08 | -163.4% |
| Cardio Diagnostics … (CDIO) | -0.06 | -9.3 | -14522.6% |
Caris Life Sciences, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.31 (2016) to $-3.22 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 5Free 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 vs VCYT vs ADPT vs CDIO: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO a better buy right now?
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) offers the better valuation at 44.2x trailing P/E (22.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. 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 has the better valuation — NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO?
On forward P/E, Veracyte, Inc. is actually cheaper at 22.0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO?
Over the past 5 years, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) delivered a total return of -23.7%, compared to -98.2% for Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. (CDIO). A $10,000 investment in VCYT five years ago would be worth approximately $8K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VCYT returned +443.8% versus CDIO's -98.2%. 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 — NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Caris Life Sciences, Inc. (CAI) is the lower-risk stock at 1.09β versus Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc.'s 2.02β — meaning CDIO is approximately 85% 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 44% for Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO?
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) is the more profitable company, earning 12.8% net margin versus -240.3% for Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VCYT leads at 11.2% versus -239.8% for CDIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CDIO leads at 100.0%, 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 NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) trades at 22.0x forward P/E versus 62.1x for Caris Life Sciences, Inc. — 40.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAI: 57.8% to $31.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO?
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.
08Is NAUT or CAI or VCYT or ADPT or CDIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.12), +443.8% 10Y return). Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. (CDIO) carries a higher beta of 2.02 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (VCYT: +443.8%, CDIO: -98.2%), 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.
09What are the main differences between NAUT and CAI and VCYT and ADPT and CDIO?
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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