Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) vs BioNTech SE (BNTX) vs Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) vs Summit Therapeutics Inc. (SMMT) vs Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX) 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 | NVAX | 64.7% revenue growth vs MRNA's -53.3% |
| Quality / Margins | NVAX | 39.2% net margin vs MRNA's -140.3% |
| Stability / Safety | PCVX | Beta 0.77 vs SMMT's 1.40 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MRNA | +73.0% vs SMMT's -19.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVAX | 37.4% ROA vs SMMT's -143.7% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Novavax is a biotechnology company that develops and commercializes protein-based vaccines for serious infectious diseases. It generates revenue primarily from its COVID-19 vaccine sales and government contracts, with future potential from its pipeline including seasonal flu and RSV vaccines. The company's key advantage is its proprietary recombinant nanoparticle vaccine technology platform, which enables rapid development of vaccines with demonstrated efficacy.
BioNTech is a biotechnology company that develops mRNA-based immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases. It generates revenue primarily through COVID-19 vaccine sales — which accounted for the vast majority of its income during the pandemic — and through partnerships and licensing deals for its oncology pipeline. The company's key advantage is its pioneering mRNA technology platform, which enables rapid development of targeted therapies and vaccines.
Moderna is a biotechnology company that develops messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, cancer, and other serious conditions. It generates revenue primarily from vaccine sales—notably its COVID-19 vaccine—with additional income from research collaborations and government grants. The company's key advantage is its proprietary mRNA technology platform, which enables rapid development of new vaccines and therapeutics compared to traditional methods.
Summit Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel antibiotics to treat serious infectious diseases. It generates revenue primarily through research collaborations and licensing agreements — with its lead candidate ridinilazole in Phase III trials for C. difficile infection — while pursuing future commercialization of its pipeline. The company's competitive advantage lies in its targeted approach to antibiotic-resistant infections and its clinical-stage assets addressing significant unmet medical needs.
Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel protein vaccines to prevent bacterial infectious diseases. It currently generates no revenue from product sales — relying on research funding and partnerships — but aims to commercialize its lead pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate, VAX-24, which is in Phase 1/2 clinical trials. The company's key advantage is its proprietary cell-free protein synthesis platform, which enables rapid design and production of complex vaccine candidates that are difficult to manufacture using traditional methods.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 5 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BNTX leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NVAX leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BNTX and PCVX operate at a comparable scale, with $3.2B and $0 in trailing revenue. NVAX is the more profitable business, keeping 39.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MRNA's -140.3%. On growth, NVAX holds the edge at +66.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | BNTXBioNTech SE | MRNAModerna, Inc. | SMMTSummit Therapeuti… | PCVXVaxcyte, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $3.2B | $2.2B | $0 | $0 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $453M | -$550M | -$3.3B | -$812M | -$899M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $440M | -$572M | -$3.1B | -$1.1B | -$767M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$251M | -$563M | -$2.7B | -$324M | -$669M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +93.5% | +82.5% | +11.9% | — | — |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +40.3% | -29.6% | -155.9% | — | — |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +39.2% | -18.1% | -140.3% | — | — |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -22.3% | -17.8% | -119.9% | — | — |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +66.6% | +22.0% | -45.2% | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +158.8% | -114.8% | -16.6% | -2.4% | -61.9% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | BNTXBioNTech SE | MRNAModerna, Inc. | SMMTSummit Therapeuti… | PCVXVaxcyte, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $27.7B | $20.9B | $12.9B | $8.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.7B | $16.4B | $19.8B | $12.7B | $8.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 3.93x | -33.74x | -5.78x | -11.52x | -10.96x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | — | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | — | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.71x | — | — | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.49x | 8.52x | 6.55x | — | — |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.16x | 1.89x | 18.83x | 3.13x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — | — | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
BNTX delivers a -3.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-3 in annual profit, vs $-164 for SMMT. BNTX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MRNA's 0.07x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NVAX scores 5/9 vs PCVX's 1/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | BNTXBioNTech SE | MRNAModerna, Inc. | SMMTSummit Therapeuti… | PCVXVaxcyte, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -3.1% | -33.4% | -163.9% | -28.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +37.4% | -2.7% | -25.7% | -143.7% | -25.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -10.5% | -27.0% | -163.4% | -24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +80.7% | -6.4% | -28.9% | -151.5% | -29.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.01x | 0.07x | 0.03x | 0.04x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8M | -$9.5B | -$1.2B | -$204M | -$56M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $241M | $9.8B | $1.9B | $225M | $174M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $249M | $254M | $747M | $21M | $117M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -49.09x | -393.13x | — | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in SMMT five years ago would be worth $25,060 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $422 for NVAX. Over the past 12 months, MRNA leads with a +73.0% total return vs SMMT's -19.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SMMT at 109.7% vs MRNA's -27.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | BNTXBioNTech SE | MRNAModerna, Inc. | SMMTSummit Therapeuti… | PCVXVaxcyte, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +42.2% | +14.0% | +73.6% | -5.3% | +32.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +21.7% | -2.4% | +73.0% | -19.8% | -15.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.5% | -15.2% | -61.4% | +821.7% | +50.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.8% | +1.9% | -66.0% | +150.6% | +139.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.4% | +688.9% | +188.0% | +145.8% | +136.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.1% | -5.4% | -27.2% | +109.7% | +14.6% |
Risk & Volatility
PCVX is the less volatile stock with a 0.77 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than SMMT's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MRNA currently trades 97.0% from its 52-week high vs SMMT's 44.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | BNTXBioNTech SE | MRNAModerna, Inc. | SMMTSummit Therapeuti… | PCVXVaxcyte, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.25x | 0.92x | 1.25x | 1.40x | 0.77x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.97 | $124.00 | $55.20 | $36.91 | $76.61 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.01 | $81.20 | $22.28 | $13.83 | $27.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.7% | +88.9% | +97.0% | +44.9% | +80.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.8 | 50.2 | 71.6 | 50.1 | 62.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.2M | 822K | 10.8M | 2.3M | 1.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: NVAX as "Buy", BNTX as "Buy", MRNA as "Hold", SMMT as "Buy", PCVX as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 56.7% upside for SMMT (target: $26) vs -34.9% for MRNA (target: $35).
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | BNTXBioNTech SE | MRNAModerna, Inc. | SMMTSummit Therapeuti… | PCVXVaxcyte, Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Hold | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $136.80 | $34.89 | $26.00 | $83.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 24 | 27 | 20 | 11 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — | — | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jul 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | 100 | 10.9 | -89.1% |
| BioNTech SE (BNTX) | 100 | 169.75 | +69.8% |
| Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) | 100 | 69.09 | -30.9% |
| Summit Therapeutics… (SMMT) | 100 | 442.14 | +342.1% |
| Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX) | 115.3 | 219.5 | +90.4% |
Summit Therapeutics… (SMMT) returned +151% over 5 years vs Novavax, Inc. (NVAX)'s -96%. A $10,000 investment in SMMT 5 years ago would be worth $25,060 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | $15M | $1.1B | +7217.7% |
| BioNTech SE (BNTX) | $62M | $2.8B | +4366.2% |
| Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) | $108M | $3.2B | +2851.2% |
| Summit Therapeutics… (SMMT) | $3M | $0.00 | -100.0% |
| Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX) | $0.00 | $0.00 | — |
Novavax, Inc.'s revenue grew from $15M (2016) to $1.1B (2025) — a 61.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | -18.2% | 39.2% | +314.9% |
| BioNTech SE (BNTX) | -139.1% | -24.2% | +82.6% |
| Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) | -199.5% | -111.3% | +44.2% |
| Summit Therapeutics… (SMMT) | -7.4% | -111.9% | -1407.4% |
Novavax, Inc.'s net margin went from -18% (2016) to 39% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 3 Years
| Stock | 2021 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioNTech SE (BNTX) | 6.3 | 27.6 | +338.1% |
BioNTech SE has traded in a 4x–28x P/E range over 3 years; current trailing P/E is ~-34x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | -20.68 | 2.58 | +112.5% |
| BioNTech SE (BNTX) | -0.38 | -2.77 | -628.9% |
| Moderna, Inc. (MRNA) | -3.79 | -9.27 | -144.6% |
| Summit Therapeutics… (SMMT) | -0.43 | -1.44 | -234.9% |
| Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX) | -4.83 | -5.63 | -16.6% |
Novavax, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-20.68 (2016) to $2.58 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Novavax, Inc. generated $-250M FCF in 2025 (-194% vs 2021). BioNTech SE generated $-245M FCF in 2024 (-133% vs 2021).
NVAX vs BNTX vs MRNA vs SMMT vs PCVX: Key Questions Answered
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NVAX or BNTX or MRNA or SMMT or PCVX a better buy right now?
Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) offers the better valuation at 3.9x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — NVAX or BNTX or MRNA or SMMT or PCVX?
Over the past 5 years, Summit Therapeutics Inc. (SMMT) delivered a total return of +150.6%, compared to -95.8% for Novavax, Inc. (NVAX). A $10,000 investment in SMMT five years ago would be worth approximately $25K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BNTX returned +688.9% versus NVAX's -88.4%. 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 — NVAX or BNTX or MRNA or SMMT or PCVX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Vaxcyte, Inc. (PCVX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.77β versus Summit Therapeutics Inc.'s 1.40β — meaning SMMT is approximately 82% more volatile than PCVX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BioNTech SE (BNTX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 7% for Moderna, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — NVAX or BNTX or MRNA or SMMT or PCVX?
Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) is the more profitable company, earning 39.2% net margin versus -111.3% for Moderna, Inc. — meaning it keeps 39.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVAX leads at 40.3% versus -123.3% for MRNA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVAX leads at 93.5%, 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — NVAX or BNTX or MRNA or SMMT or PCVX?
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.
06Is NVAX or BNTX or MRNA or SMMT or PCVX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, BioNTech SE (BNTX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.92), +688.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BNTX: +688.9%, NVAX: -88.4%), 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.
07What are the main differences between NVAX and BNTX and MRNA and SMMT and PCVX?
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: NVAX is a small-cap deep-value stock; BNTX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; MRNA is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SMMT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PCVX 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.
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