NXTC
NextCure, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$27M
5Y Perf.-97.3%
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Stock Comparison
NXTC vs RCUS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RCUS
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$2.50B
5Y Perf.-20.9%
NXTC vs RCUS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NXTC | RCUS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $27M | $2.50B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $236M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-55M | $-369M |
| Gross Margin | — | 90.7% |
| Operating Margin | — | -168.6% |
| Total Debt | $4M | $99M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $26M | $222M |
NXTC vs RCUS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NXTC
RCUS
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextCure, Inc. (NXTC) | 100 | 2.7 | -97.3% |
| Arcus Biosciences, … (RCUS) | 100 | 79.1 | -20.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NXTC vs RCUS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RCUS leads in 3 of 5 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. NextCure, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. 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 growth exposure.
- beta 0.61
- EPS growth 17.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.61, Low D/E 11.9%, current ratio 4.14x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
RCUS
Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
RCUS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 45.9% 10Y total return vs NXTC's -95.7%
- -4.3% revenue growth vs NXTC's -13.1%
- +209.6% vs NXTC's +123.2%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RCUS | -4.3% revenue growth vs NXTC's -13.1% |
| Stability / Safety | NXTC | Beta 0.61 vs RCUS's 1.95, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | RCUS | +209.6% vs NXTC's +123.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RCUS | -35.3% ROA vs NXTC's -124.6%, ROIC -64.1% vs -152.1% |
NXTC vs RCUS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
NXTC vs RCUS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRCUSLAGGINGNXTC
NXTCNextCure, Inc.
1leads
RCUSArcus Biosciences, In…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs NXTCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NXTC1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RCUS5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RCUS6/6
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)
RCUS and NXTC operate at a comparable scale, with $236M and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $236M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$55M | -$391M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$55M | -$369M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$50M | -$489M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +90.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -168.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -156.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -2.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | -39.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +60.2% | +10.5% |
NXTC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — NXTC and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $27M | $2.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5M | $2.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.52x | -7.54x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 10.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.83x | 4.22x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — NXTC and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RCUS leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RCUS delivers a -69.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-69 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 RCUS's 0.16x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NXTC scores 1/9 vs RCUS's 0/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -187.0% | -69.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -124.6% | -35.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -152.1% | -64.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -103.9% | -42.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 0 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.12x | 0.16x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$22M | -$123M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $26M | $222M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $4M | $99M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -13.38x |
RCUS leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RCUS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RCUS five years ago would be worth $8,143 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,067 for NXTC. Over the past 12 months, RCUS leads with a +209.6% total return vs NXTC's +123.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RCUS at 7.7% vs NXTC's -19.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -23.3% | +6.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +123.2% | +209.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -47.6% | +24.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -89.3% | -18.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -95.7% | +45.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -19.4% | +7.7% |
RCUS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NXTC and RCUS 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 RCUS's 1.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. RCUS currently trades 86.3% 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. | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.61x | 1.95x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $15.74 | $28.72 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $4.09 | $7.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +64.7% | +86.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.2 | 60.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 54K | 1.2M |
Evenly matched — NXTC and RCUS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | NXTCNextCure, Inc. | RCUSArcus Biosciences… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $30.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 18 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
RCUS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). NXTC leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
Best OverallArcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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NXTC vs RCUS: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NXTC or RCUS a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
(RCUS) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 RCUS?
Over the past 5 years, Arcus Biosciences, Inc.
(RCUS) delivered a total return of -18. 6%, compared to -89. 3% for NextCure, Inc. (NXTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RCUS returned +45. 9% 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 RCUS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NextCure, Inc.
(NXTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 61β versus Arcus Biosciences, Inc. 's 1. 95β — meaning RCUS is approximately 219% 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 16% for Arcus Biosciences, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — NXTC or RCUS?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NextCure, Inc.
grew EPS 17. 7% year-over-year, compared to -4. 8% for Arcus Biosciences, 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 RCUS?
NextCure, Inc.
(NXTC) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -142. 9% for Arcus Biosciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NXTC leads at 0. 0% versus -156. 3% for RCUS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RCUS leads at 96. 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 — NXTC or RCUS?
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 NXTC or RCUS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, NextCure, Inc.
(NXTC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 61)). Arcus Biosciences, Inc. (RCUS) carries a higher beta of 1. 95 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (NXTC: -95. 7%, RCUS: +45. 9%), 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 RCUS?
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.
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