NTRA vs EXAS vs ILMN vs CGEN vs MYRG

For growth investors, Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is the stronger pick with 35. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 7% for Compugen Ltd. (CGEN). Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) offers the better valuation at 25. 5x trailing P/E (26. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Natera, Inc. (NTRA) a "Buy" — based on 27 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.

On trailing P/E, Illumina, Inc.

(ILMN) is the cheapest at 25. 5x versus MYR Group Inc. at 56. 8x. On forward P/E, Illumina, Inc. is actually cheaper at 26. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: MYR Group Inc. wins at 2. 64x versus Illumina, Inc. 's 6. 33x.

Over the past 5 years, MYR Group Inc.

(MYRG) delivered a total return of +417. 6%, compared to -62. 8% for Illumina, Inc. (ILMN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NTRA returned +20. 9% versus CGEN's -57. 2%. 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.

12β versus MYR Group Inc. 's 1. 70β — meaning MYRG is approximately 1308% more volatile than EXAS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 5% versus 105% for Exact Sciences Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Natera, Inc.

(NTRA) is pulling ahead at 35. 9% versus -16. 7% for Compugen Ltd. (CGEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: MYR Group Inc. grew EPS 311. 5% year-over-year, compared to 0. 7% for Natera, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CGEN leads at 66. 8% 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.

Illumina, Inc.

(ILMN) is the more profitable company, earning 19. 6% net margin versus -51. 1% for Compugen Ltd. — meaning it keeps 19. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ILMN leads at 19. 9% versus -53. 4% for CGEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CGEN leads at 71. 5%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, MYR Group Inc. (MYRG) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 2. 64x versus Illumina, Inc. 's 6. 33x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Illumina, Inc. (ILMN) trades at 26. 8x forward P/E versus 582. 8x for Exact Sciences Corporation — 556. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CGEN: 39. 9% to $4. 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.

12), +1669% 10Y return). Compugen Ltd. (CGEN) carries a higher beta of 1. 68 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXAS: +1669%, CGEN: -57. 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (NTRA (Healthcare) and EXAS (Healthcare) and ILMN (Healthcare) and CGEN (Healthcare) and MYRG (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: NTRA is a mid-cap high-growth stock; EXAS is a mid-cap high-growth stock; ILMN is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CGEN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MYRG is a small-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.