Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
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PCRX vs PRGO
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
PCRX vs PRGO — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| Market Cap | $932M | $1.69B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $735M | $4.18B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $9M | $-1.82B |
| Gross Margin | 60.2% | 34.2% |
| Operating Margin | 3.4% | -4.1% |
| Forward P/E | 8.6x | 5.8x |
| Total Debt | $454M | $3.97B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $159M | $532M |
PCRX vs PRGO — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacira BioSciences,… (PCRX) | 100 | 53.9 | -46.1% |
| Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) | 100 | 22.4 | -77.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PCRX vs PRGO
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
PCRX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.47
- Rev growth 3.6%, EPS growth 107.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.9%
- -50.0% 10Y total return vs PRGO's -76.8%
PRGO is the clearest fit if your priority is value and dividends.
- Lower P/E (5.8x vs 8.6x)
- 9.4% yield; 10-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 3.6% revenue growth vs PRGO's -2.8% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (5.8x vs 8.6x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 1.3% margin vs PRGO's -43.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.47 vs PRGO's 1.18, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 9.4% yield; 10-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | -5.8% vs PRGO's -45.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 0.7% ROA vs PRGO's -19.8%, ROIC 2.3% vs 3.7% |
PCRX vs PRGO — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
PCRX vs PRGO — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PCRX leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PRGO is the larger business by revenue, generating $4.2B annually — 5.7x PCRX's $735M. PCRX is the more profitable business, keeping 1.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PRGO's -43.5%. On growth, PCRX holds the edge at +5.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $735M | $4.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $95M | $58M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $9M | -$1.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $133M | $108M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +60.2% | +34.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +3.4% | -4.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | -43.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.1% | +2.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.0% | -7.2% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -30.0% | -56.4% |
Valuation Metrics
PRGO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, PRGO's 7.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PCRX's 9.9x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $932M | $1.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.2B | $5.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 148.06x | -1.19x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.62x | 5.82x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.87x | 7.53x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.28x | 0.40x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.54x | 0.58x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.82x | 11.63x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PCRX leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PCRX delivers a 1.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-51 for PRGO. PCRX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.66x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PRGO's 1.35x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PCRX scores 9/9 vs PRGO's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.3% | -50.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.7% | -19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.3% | +3.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.8% | +4.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 9 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.66x | 1.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $296M | $3.4B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $159M | $532M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $454M | $4.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.37x | -7.20x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PCRX leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PRGO five years ago would be worth $4,142 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,748 for PCRX. Over the past 12 months, PCRX leads with a -5.8% total return vs PRGO's -45.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PCRX at -17.5% vs PRGO's -24.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.1% | -9.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -5.8% | -45.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -43.9% | -56.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -62.5% | -58.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -50.0% | -76.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -17.5% | -24.3% |
Risk & Volatility
PCRX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PCRX is the less volatile stock with a 0.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PRGO's 1.18 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PCRX currently trades 85.7% from its 52-week high vs PRGO's 43.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.47x | 1.18x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $27.64 | $28.44 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $18.80 | $9.23 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.7% | +43.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.9 | 53.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 694K | 3.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PCRX as "Hold" and PRGO as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 63.1% upside for PRGO (target: $20) vs 24.5% for PCRX (target: $30). PRGO is the only dividend payer here at 9.38% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.50 | $20.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +9.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $1.15 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +15.9% | 0.0% |
PCRX leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PRGO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
PCRX vs PRGO: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PCRX or PRGO a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the stronger pick with 3. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 8% for Perrigo Company plc (PRGO). Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX) offers the better valuation at 148. 1x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX) a "Hold" — based on 36 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 — PCRX or PRGO?
On forward P/E, Perrigo Company plc is actually cheaper at 5.
8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PCRX or PRGO?
Over the past 5 years, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) delivered a total return of -58.
6%, compared to -62. 5% for Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PCRX returned -50. 0% versus PRGO's -76. 8%. 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 — PCRX or PRGO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Perrigo Company plc's 1. 18β — meaning PRGO is approximately 152% more volatile than PCRX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 66% versus 135% for Perrigo Company plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — PCRX or PRGO?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is pulling ahead at 3. 6% versus -2. 8% for Perrigo Company plc (PRGO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pacira BioSciences, Inc. grew EPS 107. 4% year-over-year, compared to -723. 2% for Perrigo Company plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, PCRX leads at 2. 9% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — PCRX or PRGO?
Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 0% net margin versus -33. 5% for Perrigo Company plc — meaning it keeps 1. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PRGO leads at 8. 1% versus 4. 6% for PCRX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PCRX leads at 79. 4%, 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.
07Is PCRX or PRGO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Perrigo Company plc (PRGO) trades at 5.
8x forward P/E versus 8. 6x for Pacira BioSciences, Inc. — 2. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRGO: 63. 1% to $20. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — PCRX or PRGO?
In this comparison, PRGO (9.
4% yield) pays a dividend. PCRX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is PCRX or PRGO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PCRX: -50. 0%, PRGO: -76. 8%), 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.
10What are the main differences between PCRX and PRGO?
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: PCRX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; PRGO is a small-cap income-oriented stock. PRGO pays a dividend while PCRX 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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