NXTC
NextCure, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$27M
5Y Perf.-97.3%
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Stock Comparison
NXTC vs AZN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
AZN
AstraZeneca PLC
Drug Manufacturers - General
Market Cap$282.96B
5Y Perf.+70.2%
NXTC vs AZN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NXTC | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Market Cap | $27M | $282.96B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $60.44B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-55M | $10.39B |
| Gross Margin | — | 81.7% |
| Operating Margin | — | 23.7% |
| Forward P/E | — | 17.7x |
| Total Debt | $4M | $29.70B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $26M | $5.71B |
NXTC vs AZN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NXTC
AZN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextCure, Inc. (NXTC) | 100 | 2.7 | -97.3% |
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 100 | 170.2 | +70.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NXTC vs AZN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AZN leads in 3 of 5 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. NextCure, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NXTC
NextCure, Inc.
The Income Pick
NXTC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.61
- Lower volatility, beta 0.61, Low D/E 11.9%, current ratio 4.14x
- Beta 0.61, current ratio 4.14x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
AZN
AstraZeneca PLC
The Growth Play
AZN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 8.6%, EPS growth 190.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.8%
- 268.6% 10Y total return vs NXTC's -95.7%
- 8.6% revenue growth vs NXTC's -13.1%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AZN | 8.6% revenue growth vs NXTC's -13.1% |
| Stability / Safety | NXTC | Beta 0.61 vs AZN's 0.67, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AZN | 1.8% yield; 4-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NXTC | +123.2% vs AZN's +33.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AZN | 9.1% ROA vs NXTC's -124.6%, ROIC 14.9% vs -152.1% |
NXTC vs AZN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
NXTC vs AZN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNXTCLAGGINGAZN
AZNAstraZeneca PLC
2leads
NXTCNextCure, Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AZNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NXTC1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NXTC2/2
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AZN5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
AZN5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NXTC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
AZN and NXTC operate at a comparable scale, with $60.4B and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | AZNAstraZeneca PLC |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $60.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$55M | $20.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$55M | $10.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$50M | $9.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +81.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +23.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | +17.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +15.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +12.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +60.2% | +5.3% |
NXTC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
NXTC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | AZNAstraZeneca PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $27M | $283.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5M | $306.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.52x | 27.91x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 17.74x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.28x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 15.76x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 4.82x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.83x | 5.85x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 24.05x |
NXTC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AZN leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AZN delivers a 22.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $-187 for NXTC. NXTC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.12x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AZN's 0.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AZN scores 8/9 vs NXTC's 1/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | AZNAstraZeneca PLC |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -187.0% | +22.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -124.6% | +9.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -152.1% | +14.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -103.9% | +17.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 0.61x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$22M | $24.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $26M | $5.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4M | $29.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 8.43x |
AZN leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
AZN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in AZN five years ago would be worth $18,221 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,067 for NXTC. Over the past 12 months, NXTC leads with a +123.2% total return vs AZN's +33.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AZN at 9.3% vs NXTC's -19.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | AZNAstraZeneca PLC |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.3% | +1.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +123.2% | +33.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -47.6% | +30.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -89.3% | +82.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.7% | +268.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -19.4% | +9.3% |
AZN leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NXTC and AZN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NXTC is the less volatile stock with a 0.61 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AZN's 0.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AZN currently trades 85.8% from its 52-week high vs NXTC's 64.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | AZNAstraZeneca PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.61x | 0.67x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.74 | $212.71 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.09 | $91.44 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.7% | +85.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.2 | 39.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 54K | 1.9M |
Evenly matched — NXTC and AZN each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
AZN is the only dividend payer here at 1.78% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | AZNAstraZeneca PLC |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $211.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 4 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.3% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
NXTC leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). AZN leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNextCure, Inc. (NXTC)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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NXTC vs AZN: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NXTC or AZN a better buy right now?
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) offers the better valuation at 27.
9x trailing P/E (17. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) a "Buy" — based on 41 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 — NXTC or AZN?
Over the past 5 years, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) delivered a total return of +82.
2%, compared to -89. 3% for NextCure, Inc. (NXTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AZN returned +268. 6% versus NXTC's -95. 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 — NXTC or AZN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NextCure, Inc.
(NXTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 61β versus AstraZeneca PLC's 0. 67β — meaning AZN is approximately 9% more volatile than NXTC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NextCure, Inc. (NXTC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 61% for AstraZeneca PLC — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — NXTC or AZN?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AstraZeneca PLC grew EPS 190.
7% year-over-year, compared to 17. 7% for NextCure, Inc.. 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 — NXTC or AZN?
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.
5% net margin versus 0. 0% for NextCure, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AZN leads at 23. 4% versus 0. 0% for NXTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AZN leads at 81. 9%, 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 — NXTC or AZN?
In this comparison, AZN (1.
8% yield) pays a dividend. NXTC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is NXTC or AZN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
67), 1. 8% yield, +268. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AZN: +268. 6%, NXTC: -95. 7%), 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 NXTC and AZN?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
AZN pays a dividend while NXTC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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