Biotechnology
Compare Stocks
4 / 10Stock Comparison
NRSN vs SAVA vs ACIU vs AVXL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology
NRSN vs SAVA vs ACIU vs AVXL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $20M | $94M | $291M | $298M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $4M | $0.00 |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-9M | $-106M | $-70M | $-40M |
| Gross Margin | — | — | 100.0% | — |
| Operating Margin | — | — | -19.3% | — |
| Total Debt | $73K | $0.00 | $5M | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3M | $129M | $27M | $103M |
NRSN vs SAVA vs ACIU vs AVXL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Dec 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NeuroSense Therapeu… (NRSN) | 100 | 35.8 | -64.2% |
| Cassava Sciences, I… (SAVA) | 100 | 36.5 | -63.5% |
| AC Immune S.A. (ACIU) | 100 | 57.8 | -42.2% |
| Anavex Life Science… (AVXL) | 100 | 18.6 | -81.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NRSN vs SAVA vs ACIU vs AVXL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NRSN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.26
- Lower volatility, beta 1.26, Low D/E 2.8%, current ratio 2.21x
- Beta 1.26, current ratio 2.21x
- -2.8% revenue growth vs SAVA's -5.4%
SAVA is the #2 pick in this set and the best alternative if growth exposure and long-term compounding is your priority.
- EPS growth 77.6%
- -19.5% 10Y total return vs AVXL's -23.3%
- 5.4% margin vs ACIU's -19.7%
ACIU is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +72.3% vs AVXL's -62.4%
AVXL is the clearest fit if your priority is efficiency.
- -30.0% ROA vs NRSN's -5.1%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | -2.8% revenue growth vs SAVA's -5.4% | |
| Quality / Margins | 5.4% margin vs ACIU's -19.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.26 vs SAVA's 1.99 | |
| Dividends | Tie | None of these 4 stocks pay a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +72.3% vs AVXL's -62.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | -30.0% ROA vs NRSN's -5.1% |
NRSN vs SAVA vs ACIU vs AVXL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 4 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Who Leads Where
SAVA leads in 1 of 6 categories
AVXL leads 1 • ACIU leads 1 • NRSN leads 0 • 2 tied
Explore the data ↓Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SAVA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACIU and AVXL operate at a comparable scale, with $4M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $0 | $4M | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$9M | -$110M | -$67M | -$30M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$9M | -$106M | -$70M | -$40M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$2,000 | -$84M | -$70M | -$34M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | — | +100.0% | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | — | -19.3% | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | — | -19.7% | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | — | -19.6% | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — | -70.3% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -95.2% | +62.1% | +6.7% | +54.4% |
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — SAVA and AVXL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20M | $94M | $291M | $298M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $17M | -$34M | $263M | $196M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.60x | -3.76x | -3.19x | -5.96x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | — | 63.53x | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.34x | 0.63x | 5.00x | 2.89x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
AVXL leads this category, winning 4 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AVXL delivers a -31.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-32 in annual profit, vs $-29 for NRSN. NRSN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACIU's 0.10x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NRSN scores 3/9 vs AVXL's 2/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -28.8% | -95.8% | -101.6% | -31.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -5.1% | -75.3% | -38.7% | -30.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -6.3% | -99.2% | — |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -8.6% | -99.9% | -72.6% | -47.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | — | 0.10x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$3M | -$129M | -$22M | -$103M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $129M | $27M | $103M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $73,000 | $0 | $5M | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -97.39x | — | -482.85x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ACIU leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACIU five years ago would be worth $4,689 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,178 for NRSN. Over the past 12 months, ACIU leads with a +72.3% total return vs AVXL's -62.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACIU at 10.7% vs AVXL's -27.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.8% | -6.5% | -14.9% | -12.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -16.2% | +15.0% | +72.3% | -62.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -49.1% | -40.8% | +35.5% | -61.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.2% | -64.6% | -53.1% | -70.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.2% | -19.5% | -81.7% | -23.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -20.2% | -16.0% | +10.7% | -27.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NRSN and ACIU each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NRSN is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SAVA's 1.99 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ACIU currently trades 71.5% from its 52-week high vs AVXL's 23.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.26x | 1.99x | 1.54x | 1.45x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $2.60 | $4.98 | $4.00 | $13.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.63 | $1.54 | $1.51 | $2.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +33.8% | +39.3% | +71.5% | +23.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.9 | 46.8 | 47.5 | 40.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 156K | 727K | 266K | 1.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: SAVA as "Buy", ACIU as "Buy", AVXL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 241.6% upside for AVXL (target: $11) vs 144.8% for ACIU (target: $7).
| Metric | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — | $7.00 | $11.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 12 | 9 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
SAVA leads in 1 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow). AVXL leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
NRSN vs SAVA vs ACIU vs AVXL: Key Questions Answered
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Cassava Sciences, Inc.
(SAVA) a "Buy" — based on 12 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 — NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL?
Over the past 5 years, AC Immune S.
A. (ACIU) delivered a total return of -53. 1%, compared to -78. 2% for NeuroSense Therapeutics Ltd. (NRSN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAVA returned -19. 5% versus ACIU's -81. 7%. 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 — NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NeuroSense Therapeutics Ltd.
(NRSN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 26β versus Cassava Sciences, Inc. 's 1. 99β — meaning SAVA is approximately 58% more volatile than NRSN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NeuroSense Therapeutics Ltd. (NRSN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 10% for AC Immune S. A. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Cassava Sciences, Inc.
grew EPS 77. 6% year-over-year, compared to -37. 3% for AC Immune S. A.. 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 — NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL?
NeuroSense Therapeutics Ltd.
(NRSN) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -1971. 6% for AC Immune S. A. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NRSN leads at 0. 0% versus -1927. 3% for ACIU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACIU 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL?
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 NRSN or SAVA or ACIU or AVXL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NeuroSense Therapeutics Ltd.
(NRSN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 26)). Cassava Sciences, Inc. (SAVA) carries a higher beta of 1. 99 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NRSN: -78. 2%, SAVA: -19. 5%), 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 NRSN and SAVA and ACIU and AVXL?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform all of them.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.