PLSE
Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Market Cap$1.34B
5Y Perf.+115.5%
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Stock Comparison
PLSE vs NVCR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
NVCR
NovoCure Limited
Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Market Cap$1.92B
5Y Perf.-75.0%
PLSE vs NVCR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PLSE | NVCR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Instruments & Supplies | Medical - Instruments & Supplies |
| Market Cap | $1.34B | $1.92B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $350K | $674M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-73M | $-173M |
| Gross Margin | -204.3% | 75.2% |
| Operating Margin | -219.8% | -27.2% |
| Total Debt | $8M | $290M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $81M | $103M |
PLSE vs NVCR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PLSE
NVCR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulse Biosciences, … (PLSE) | 100 | 215.5 | +115.5% |
| NovoCure Limited (NVCR) | 100 | 25.0 | -75.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PLSE vs NVCR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NVCR leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Pulse Biosciences, 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.
PLSE
Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
The Income Pick
PLSE is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 1.94
- 369.8% 10Y total return vs NVCR's 30.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.94, Low D/E 9.3%, current ratio 10.53x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
NVCR
NovoCure Limited
The Growth Play
NVCR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.3%, EPS growth 21.8%, 3Y rev CAGR 6.8%
- 8.3% revenue growth vs PLSE's -36.8%
- -25.7% margin vs PLSE's -207.9%
Best for: growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NVCR | 8.3% revenue growth vs PLSE's -36.8% |
| Quality / Margins | NVCR | -25.7% margin vs PLSE's -207.9% |
| Stability / Safety | PLSE | Beta 1.94 vs NVCR's 2.20, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PLSE | +17.4% vs NVCR's +1.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVCR | -16.5% ROA vs PLSE's -63.5%, ROIC -16.4% vs -8.8% |
PLSE vs NVCR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2022
Segment breakdown not available.
PLSE vs NVCR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNVCRLAGGINGPLSE
PLSEPulse Biosciences, In…
1leads
NVCRNovoCure Limited
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PLSEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NVCR4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
NVCR2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
NVCR5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PLSE6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVCR leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NVCR is the larger business by revenue, generating $674M annually — 1926.9x PLSE's $350,000. NVCR is the more profitable business, keeping -25.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to PLSE's -207.9%.
| Metric | PLSEPulse Biosciences… | NVCRNovoCure Limited |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $350,000 | $674M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$76M | -$165M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$73M | -$173M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$54M | -$48M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -2.0% | +75.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -219.8% | -27.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -207.9% | -25.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -155.5% | -7.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +12.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +21.2% | -100.0% |
NVCR leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
NVCR leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PLSEPulse Biosciences… | NVCRNovoCure Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.3B | $1.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.3B | $2.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -18.14x | -13.80x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3818.65x | 2.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 16.37x | 5.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
NVCR leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NVCR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NVCR delivers a -50.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-51 in annual profit, vs $-73 for PLSE. PLSE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.09x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NVCR's 0.85x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NVCR scores 5/9 vs PLSE's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PLSEPulse Biosciences… | NVCRNovoCure Limited |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -73.5% | -50.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -63.5% | -16.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -8.8% | -16.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -73.1% | -28.9% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.09x | 0.85x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$73M | $187M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $81M | $103M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $8M | $290M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | -96.80x |
NVCR leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PLSE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PLSE five years ago would be worth $11,423 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $875 for NVCR. Over the past 12 months, PLSE leads with a +17.4% total return vs NVCR's +1.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLSE at 34.7% vs NVCR's -37.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PLSEPulse Biosciences… | NVCRNovoCure Limited |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +46.3% | +28.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +17.4% | +1.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +144.3% | -75.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +14.2% | -91.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +369.8% | +30.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.7% | -37.6% |
PLSE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PLSE and NVCR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PLSE is the less volatile stock with a 1.94 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVCR's 2.20 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NVCR currently trades 83.9% from its 52-week high vs PLSE's 74.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PLSEPulse Biosciences… | NVCRNovoCure Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.94x | 2.20x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $26.30 | $20.06 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.56 | $9.82 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.5% | +83.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.4 | 69.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 240K | 1.5M |
Evenly matched — PLSE and NVCR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PLSE as "Buy" and NVCR as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 99.0% upside for NVCR (target: $34) vs 53.1% for PLSE (target: $30).
| Metric | PLSEPulse Biosciences… | NVCRNovoCure Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $30.00 | $33.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 15 |
| 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
NVCR leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). PLSE leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallNovoCure Limited (NVCR)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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PLSE vs NVCR: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PLSE or NVCR a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
(PLSE) a "Buy" — based on 4 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 — PLSE or NVCR?
Over the past 5 years, Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
(PLSE) delivered a total return of +14. 2%, compared to -91. 3% for NovoCure Limited (NVCR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLSE returned +369. 8% versus NVCR's +30. 3%. 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 — PLSE or NVCR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
(PLSE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 94β versus NovoCure Limited's 2. 20β — meaning NVCR is approximately 14% more volatile than PLSE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (PLSE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 85% for NovoCure Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — PLSE or NVCR?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NovoCure Limited grew EPS 21.
8% year-over-year, compared to -17. 4% for Pulse Biosciences, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NVCR leads at 6. 8% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — PLSE or NVCR?
NovoCure Limited (NVCR) is the more profitable company, earning -20.
8% net margin versus -207. 9% for Pulse Biosciences, Inc. — meaning it keeps -20. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVCR leads at -23. 5% versus -219. 8% for PLSE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVCR leads at 74. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — PLSE or NVCR?
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 PLSE or NVCR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
(PLSE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+369. 8% 10Y return). NovoCure Limited (NVCR) carries a higher beta of 2. 20 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLSE: +369. 8%, NVCR: +30. 3%), 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 PLSE and NVCR?
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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