NEO vs EXAS

For growth investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger pick with 17.

7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 10. 1% for NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO). Analysts rate NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO) a "Buy" — based on 29 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.

Over the past 5 years, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) delivered a total return of -16.

1%, compared to -74. 4% for NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXAS returned +1390% versus NEO's +42. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

05β versus NeoGenomics, Inc. 's 1. 37β — meaning NEO is approximately -3047% more volatile than EXAS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 56% versus 105% for Exact Sciences Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is pulling ahead at 17.

7% versus 10. 1% for NeoGenomics, Inc. (NEO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Exact Sciences Corporation grew EPS 80. 3% year-over-year, compared to -35. 5% for NeoGenomics, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, EXAS leads at 15. 9% 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.

Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the more profitable company, earning -6.

4% net margin versus -14. 9% for NeoGenomics, Inc. — meaning it keeps -6. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXAS leads at -6. 4% versus -9. 1% for NEO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXAS leads at 69. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, NeoGenomics, Inc.

(NEO) trades at 61. 9x forward P/E versus 582. 8x for Exact Sciences Corporation — 520. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NEO: 70. 4% to $19. 00.

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.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Exact Sciences Corporation (EXAS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

05), +1390% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXAS: +1390%, NEO: +42. 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.

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: NEO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EXAS is a mid-cap high-growth 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.