Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) vs Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) 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 REGN's 1.0% |
| Value | NVAX | Lower P/E (3.9x vs 17.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NVAX | 39.2% net margin vs REGN's 31.4% |
| Stability / Safety | REGN | Beta 0.58 vs NVAX's 1.25 |
| Dividends | REGN | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; NVAX pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVAX | +21.7% vs REGN's +12.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVAX | 37.4% ROA vs REGN's 11.1% |
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.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company that discovers, develops, and commercializes innovative medicines for serious diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its flagship products — EYLEA for eye diseases (~60% of revenue) and Dupixent for inflammatory conditions (~30%) — with additional income from collaborations and royalties. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary VelocImmune technology platform for creating human antibodies and its deep expertise in genetic research, which enables rapid drug discovery and development.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NVAX leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). REGN leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
REGN is the larger business by revenue, generating $14.3B annually — 12.8x NVAX's $1.1B. NVAX is the more profitable business, keeping 39.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to REGN's 31.4%. On growth, NVAX holds the edge at +66.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $14.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $453M | $4.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $440M | $4.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$251M | $3.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +93.5% | +86.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +40.3% | +25.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +39.2% | +31.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -22.3% | +22.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +66.6% | +2.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +158.8% | -2.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 3.9x trailing earnings, NVAX trades at a 79% valuation discount to REGN's 18.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NVAX's 3.7x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than REGN's 21.6x.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $107.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.7B | $91.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 3.93x | 18.84x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 17.25x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.98x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 3.71x | 21.64x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.49x | 7.50x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 2.72x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 26.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), REGN scores 7/9 vs NVAX's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +14.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +37.4% | +11.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +12.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +80.7% | +10.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $8M | -$16.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $241M | $18.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $249M | $2.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 120.42x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in REGN five years ago would be worth $16,977 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $422 for NVAX. Over the past 12 months, NVAX leads with a +21.7% total return vs REGN's +12.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVAX at 3.1% vs REGN's 1.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +42.2% | +0.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +21.7% | +12.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +9.5% | +3.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.8% | +69.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -88.4% | +104.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +3.1% | +1.1% |
Risk & Volatility
REGN is the less volatile stock with a 0.58 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVAX's 1.25 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. REGN currently trades 95.2% from its 52-week high vs NVAX's 84.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.25x | 0.58x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.97 | $821.11 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.01 | $476.49 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +84.7% | +95.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 74.8 | 49.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.2M | 687K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NVAX as "Buy" and REGN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 43.0% upside for NVAX (target: $15) vs 9.7% for REGN (target: $857). REGN is the only dividend payer here at 0.44% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NVAXNovavax, Inc. | REGNRegeneron Pharmac… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $14.50 | $857.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 48 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.41 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +3.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | 100 | 72.3 | -27.7% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 100 | 162.46 | +62.5% |
Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) returned +70% over 5 years vs Novavax, Inc. (NVAX)'s -96%. A $10,000 investment in REGN 5 years ago would be worth $16,977 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | $15M | $1.1B | +7217.7% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | $4.9B | $14.3B | +195.1% |
Novavax, Inc.'s revenue grew from $15M (2016) to $1.1B (2025) — a 61.1% CAGR. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $4.9B (2016) to $14.3B (2025) — a 12.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | -18.2% | 39.2% | +314.9% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 18.4% | 31.4% | +70.5% |
Novavax, Inc.'s net margin went from -18% (2016) to 39% (2025). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from 18% (2016) to 31% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 36.4 | 18.6 | -48.9% |
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has traded in a 9x–36x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) | -20.68 | 2.58 | +112.5% |
| Regeneron Pharmaceu… (REGN) | 7.7 | 41.48 | +438.7% |
Novavax, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-20.68 (2016) to $2.58 (2025). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.70 (2016) to $41.48 (2025) — a 21% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Novavax, Inc. generated $-250M FCF in 2025 (-194% vs 2021). Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (-38% vs 2021).
NVAX vs REGN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NVAX or REGN 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 has the better valuation — NVAX or REGN?
On trailing P/E, Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) is the cheapest at 3.9x versus Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 18.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NVAX or REGN?
Over the past 5 years, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) delivered a total return of +69.8%, compared to -95.8% for Novavax, Inc. (NVAX). A $10,000 investment in REGN five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: REGN returned +104.7% 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.
04Which is safer — NVAX or REGN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.58β versus Novavax, Inc.'s 1.25β — meaning NVAX is approximately 116% more volatile than REGN relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — NVAX or REGN?
Novavax, Inc. (NVAX) is the more profitable company, earning 39.2% net margin versus 31.4% for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, 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 25.7% for REGN. 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.
06Is NVAX or REGN more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVAX: 43.0% to $14.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — NVAX or REGN?
In this comparison, REGN (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. NVAX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is NVAX or REGN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.58), +104.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (REGN: +104.7%, 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.
09What are the main differences between NVAX and REGN?
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; REGN is a mid-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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