PRAX
Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$7.50B
5Y Perf.-36.5%
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Stock Comparison
PRAX vs ACAD
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.78B
5Y Perf.-51.7%
PRAX vs ACAD — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | PRAX | ACAD |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $7.50B | $3.78B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $1.05B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-303M | $261M |
| Gross Margin | — | 91.9% |
| Operating Margin | — | 23.0% |
| Forward P/E | — | 50.4x |
| Total Debt | $110K | $52M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $357M | $320M |
PRAX vs ACAD — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
PRAX
ACAD
| Stock | Oct 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Praxis Precision Me… (PRAX) | 100 | 63.5 | -36.5% |
| ACADIA Pharmaceutic… (ACAD) | 100 | 48.3 | -51.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: PRAX vs ACAD
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ACAD leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
PRAX
Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.
The Defensive Pick
PRAX is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night.
- Lower volatility, beta 1.55, Low D/E 0.0%, current ratio 10.22x
- +7.6% vs ACAD's +47.6%
Best for: sleep-well-at-night
ACAD
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Income Pick
ACAD carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.26
- Rev growth 31.8%, EPS growth 467.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 25.5%
- -17.4% 10Y total return vs PRAX's -20.1%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACAD | 31.8% revenue growth vs PRAX's -100.0% |
| Quality / Margins | ACAD | 24.9% margin vs PRAX's 2.4% |
| Stability / Safety | ACAD | Beta 1.26 vs PRAX's 1.55 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | PRAX | +7.6% vs ACAD's +47.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACAD | 19.6% ROA vs PRAX's -53.5%, ROIC 45.2% vs -65.0% |
PRAX vs ACAD — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2024
FY 2018
PRAX vs ACAD — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLACADLAGGINGPRAX
PRAXPraxis Precision Medi…
1leads
ACADACADIA Pharmaceutical…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PRAXMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ACAD2/2
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ACAD5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PRAX4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACAD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ACAD and PRAX operate at a comparable scale, with $1.0B and $0 in trailing revenue. On growth, ACAD holds the edge at +11.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | PRAXPraxis Precision … | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $1.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$326M | $255M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$303M | $261M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$249M | $198M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +91.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +23.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | +24.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | +18.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | +11.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -19.0% | +110.0% |
ACAD leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — PRAX and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | PRAXPraxis Precision … | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7.5B | $3.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.1B | $3.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -24.73x | 16.43x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 50.43x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 14.24x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 3.95x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 8.54x | 5.07x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 24.05x |
Evenly matched — PRAX and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACAD delivers a 28.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $28 in annual profit, vs $-59 for PRAX. PRAX carries lower financial leverage with a 0.00x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACAD's 0.07x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ACAD scores 4/9 vs PRAX's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | PRAXPraxis Precision … | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -58.7% | +28.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -53.5% | +19.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -65.0% | +45.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -49.3% | +35.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.00x | 0.07x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$357M | -$268M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $357M | $320M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $110,000 | $52M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
ACAD leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PRAX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ACAD five years ago would be worth $11,521 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,439 for PRAX. Over the past 12 months, PRAX leads with a +755.5% total return vs ACAD's +47.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PRAX at 173.2% vs ACAD's 0.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | PRAXPraxis Precision … | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +16.4% | -14.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +755.5% | +47.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1938.5% | +1.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.6% | +15.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.1% | -17.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +173.2% | +0.6% |
PRAX leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — PRAX and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ACAD is the less volatile stock with a 1.26 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PRAX's 1.55 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PRAX currently trades 93.6% from its 52-week high vs ACAD's 80.4% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | PRAXPraxis Precision … | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.55x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $356.00 | $27.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $34.89 | $14.45 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.6% | +80.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.8 | 50.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 380K | 1.7M |
Evenly matched — PRAX and ACAD each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates PRAX as "Buy" and ACAD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 63.3% upside for PRAX (target: $544) vs 55.6% for ACAD (target: $35).
| Metric | PRAXPraxis Precision … | ACADACADIA Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $544.40 | $34.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 16 | 37 |
| 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
ACAD leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PRAX leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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PRAX vs ACAD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is PRAX or ACAD a better buy right now?
For growth investors, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the stronger pick with 31. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -100. 0% for Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (PRAX). ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) offers the better valuation at 16. 4x trailing P/E (50. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (PRAX) a "Buy" — based on 16 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 — PRAX or ACAD?
Over the past 5 years, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) delivered a total return of +15. 2%, compared to -15. 6% for Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (PRAX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACAD returned -17. 4% versus PRAX's -20. 1%. 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 — PRAX or ACAD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 26β versus Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. 's 1. 55β — meaning PRAX is approximately 23% more volatile than ACAD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (PRAX) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 0% versus 7% for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — PRAX or ACAD?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is pulling ahead at 31. 8% versus -100. 0% for Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (PRAX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. grew EPS 467. 6% year-over-year, compared to -32. 0% for Praxis Precision Medicines, 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 — PRAX or ACAD?
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 6% net margin versus 0. 0% for Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACAD leads at 24. 1% versus 0. 0% for PRAX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACAD leads at 91. 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.
06Is PRAX or ACAD more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for PRAX: 63.
3% to $544. 40.
07Which pays a better dividend — PRAX or ACAD?
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 PRAX or ACAD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(ACAD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 26)). Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (PRAX) carries a higher beta of 1. 55 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACAD: -17. 4%, PRAX: -20. 1%), 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 PRAX and ACAD?
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: PRAX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ACAD is a small-cap high-growth stock. 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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