Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX) vs BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) 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 | BMRN | 12.9% revenue growth vs PLX's -18.5% |
| Value | PLX | Lower P/E (14.4x vs 15.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | BMRN | 10.8% net margin vs PLX's 8.7% |
| Stability / Safety | PLX | Beta 0.74 vs BMRN's 0.74 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PLX | +23.6% vs BMRN's -13.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PLX | 6.6% ROA vs BMRN's 4.6%, ROIC 8.8% vs 7.4% |
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
Protalix BioTherapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes recombinant therapeutic proteins using its proprietary plant cell-based expression system. It generates revenue primarily from sales of Elelyso for Gaucher disease and through partnerships with pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Chiesi Farmaceutici. The company's key competitive advantage is its ProCellEx platform — a plant-based protein expression technology that offers potential manufacturing and cost advantages over traditional mammalian cell systems.
BioMarin Pharmaceutical is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for rare genetic diseases. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its orphan drug portfolio — including Voxzogo, Vimizim, and Palynziq — with additional income from licensing and royalties. The company's moat lies in its deep expertise in rare disease biology and its established commercial infrastructure for ultra-orphan drugs, which creates high barriers to entry.
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
PLX leads in 3 of 6 categories (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns). BMRN leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BMRN is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 52.1x PLX's $62M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.8% (BMRN) to 8.7% (PLX). On growth, BMRN holds the edge at +17.0% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PLXProtalix BioThera… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $62M | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8M | $613M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5M | $349M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$12M | $725M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +57.5% | +77.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.3% | +16.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +10.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -18.9% | +22.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.6% | +17.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.0% | -134.4% |
Valuation Metrics
At 34.3x trailing earnings, BMRN trades at a 56% valuation discount to PLX's 78.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BMRN's 18.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PLX's 39.1x.
| Metric | PLXProtalix BioThera… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $218M | $11.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $204M | $11.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 78.69x | 34.29x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.40x | 15.45x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 39.11x | 18.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.09x | 3.68x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.40x | 2.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 29.55x | 16.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PLX delivers a 10.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $6 for BMRN. BMRN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.10x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to PLX's 0.13x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PLX scores 6/9 vs BMRN's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | PLXProtalix BioThera… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.2% | +5.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.6% | +4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.8% | +7.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.0% | +7.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.13x | 0.10x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$14M | -$715M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $20M | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6M | $597M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 7.65x | 48.95x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BMRN five years ago would be worth $7,797 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,914 for PLX. Over the past 12 months, PLX leads with a +23.6% total return vs BMRN's -13.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLX at 14.1% vs BMRN's -14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PLXProtalix BioThera… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +65.5% | +3.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +23.6% | -13.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +48.5% | -38.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -40.9% | -22.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -65.4% | -24.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.1% | -14.7% |
Risk & Volatility
PLX is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BMRN's 0.74 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PLX currently trades 90.3% from its 52-week high vs BMRN's 84.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PLXProtalix BioThera… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 0.74x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $3.19 | $73.51 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $1.32 | $50.76 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +90.3% | +84.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.8 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PLX as "Buy" and BMRN as "Buy".
| Metric | PLXProtalix BioThera… | BMRNBioMarin Pharmace… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $82.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 7 | 40 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protalix BioTherape… (PLX) | 100 | 74.71 | -25.3% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | 100 | 61.39 | -38.6% |
BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) returned -22% over 5 years vs Protalix BioTherape… (PLX)'s -41%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protalix BioTherape… (PLX) | $9M | $53M | +480.5% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | $1.1B | $0.00 | -100.0% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.1B (2016) to $0M (2025) — a -100.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protalix BioTherape… (PLX) | 13.3% | 5.5% | -58.7% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | -19.3% | 15.0% | +177.5% |
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc.'s net margin went from 13% (2015) to 5% (2024). BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s net margin went from -19% (2015) to 15% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 5 Years
| Stock | 2020 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | 19.4 | 424.5 | +2088.1% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. has traded in a 19x–425x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~34x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protalix BioTherape… (PLX) | -0.29 | 0.04 | +112.6% |
| BioMarin Pharmaceut… (BMRN) | -3.79 | 0.14 | +103.7% |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s EPS grew from $-3.79 (2016) to $0.14 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. generated $7M FCF in 2024 (+163% vs 2021). BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. generated $725M FCF in 2025 (+291% vs 2021).
PLX vs BMRN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PLX or BMRN a better buy right now?
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) offers the better valuation at 34.3x trailing P/E (15.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX) a "Buy" — based on 7 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 — PLX or BMRN?
On trailing P/E, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) is the cheapest at 34.3x versus Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. at 78.7x. On forward P/E, Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14.4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — PLX or BMRN?
Over the past 5 years, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) delivered a total return of -22.0%, compared to -40.9% for Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX). A $10,000 investment in BMRN five years ago would be worth approximately $8K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BMRN returned -24.6% versus PLX's -65.4%. 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 — PLX or BMRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.74β versus BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s 0.74β — meaning BMRN is approximately 1% more volatile than PLX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 13% for Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — PLX or BMRN?
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) is the more profitable company, earning 10.8% net margin versus 5.5% for Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BMRN leads at 16.6% versus 7.3% for PLX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BMRN leads at 77.1%, 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 PLX or BMRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc. (PLX) trades at 14.4x forward P/E versus 15.4x for BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. — 1.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — PLX or BMRN?
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.
08Is PLX or BMRN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.74)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BMRN: -24.6%, PLX: -65.4%), 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 PLX and BMRN?
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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