RNAZ
TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$7M
5Y Perf.-100.0%
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Try these comparisons:
Stock Comparison
RNAZ vs IONS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
IONS
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$12.56B
5Y Perf.+104.7%
RNAZ vs IONS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | RNAZ | IONS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $7M | $12.56B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $1.06B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-27M | $-327M |
| Gross Margin | — | 98.3% |
| Operating Margin | — | -33.3% |
| Total Debt | $38K | $2.61B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $6M | $372M |
RNAZ vs IONS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RNAZ
IONS
| Stock | Jul 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| TransCode Therapeut… (RNAZ) | 100 | 0.0 | -100.0% |
| Ionis Pharmaceutica… (IONS) | 100 | 204.7 | +104.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RNAZ vs IONS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: IONS leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and operational efficiency and capital deployment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
RNAZ
TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.
The Growth Play
RNAZ is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- EPS growth 98.6%
- -0.4% margin vs IONS's -30.9%
- -0.5% ROA vs IONS's -10.1%
Best for: growth exposure
IONS
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
The Income Pick
IONS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- beta 0.55
- 121.1% 10Y total return vs RNAZ's -100.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.55, current ratio 3.83x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | IONS | 33.9% revenue growth vs RNAZ's -87.4% |
| Quality / Margins | RNAZ | -0.4% margin vs IONS's -30.9% |
| Stability / Safety | IONS | Beta 0.55 vs RNAZ's 0.95 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | IONS | +129.9% vs RNAZ's -19.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RNAZ | -0.5% ROA vs IONS's -10.1% |
RNAZ vs IONS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
RNAZ vs IONS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLIONSLAGGINGRNAZ
RNAZTransCode Therapeutic…
1leads
IONSIonis Pharmaceuticals…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs RNAZMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
IONS1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
IONS1/1
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RNAZ5/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
IONS5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
IONS2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IONS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
IONS and RNAZ operate at a comparable scale, with $1.1B and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | RNAZTransCode Therape… | IONSIonis Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$17M | $4.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$27M | -$327M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$15M | -$971M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +98.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | -33.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | -30.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -91.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +87.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -380.7% | +39.8% |
IONS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
IONS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RNAZTransCode Therape… | IONSIonis Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $7M | $12.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $896,691 | $14.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.17x | -31.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 13.31x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 24.87x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
IONS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Profitability & Efficiency
RNAZ leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RNAZ delivers a -1.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-2 in annual profit, vs $-59 for IONS. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RNAZ scores 4/9 vs IONS's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | RNAZTransCode Therape… | IONSIonis Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -1.9% | -58.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -0.5% | -10.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -12.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.1% | -14.1% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 5.35x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$6M | $2.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $372M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $38,291 | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -3431.07x | -3.64x |
RNAZ leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
IONS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in IONS five years ago would be worth $20,805 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $0 for RNAZ. Over the past 12 months, IONS leads with a +129.9% total return vs RNAZ's -19.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors IONS at 29.3% vs RNAZ's -96.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RNAZTransCode Therape… | IONSIonis Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.1% | -4.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -19.6% | +129.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | +116.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | +108.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | +121.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -96.3% | +29.3% |
IONS leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IONS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
IONS is the less volatile stock with a 0.55 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RNAZ's 0.95 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. IONS currently trades 87.6% from its 52-week high vs RNAZ's 38.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RNAZTransCode Therape… | IONSIonis Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.95x | 0.55x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.99 | $86.74 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.08 | $31.66 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +38.1% | +87.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 31.2 | 58.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8K | 2.0M |
IONS leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | RNAZTransCode Therape… | IONSIonis Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $107.27 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 32 |
| 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
IONS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). RNAZ leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency).
Best OverallIonis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IONS)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
RNAZ vs IONS: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RNAZ or IONS a better buy right now?
Analysts rate Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(IONS) a "Buy" — based on 32 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 — RNAZ or IONS?
Over the past 5 years, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(IONS) delivered a total return of +108. 0%, compared to -100. 0% for TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. (RNAZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: IONS returned +121. 1% versus RNAZ's -100. 0%. 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 — RNAZ or IONS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(IONS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 55β versus TransCode Therapeutics, Inc. 's 0. 95β — meaning RNAZ is approximately 74% more volatile than IONS relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — RNAZ or IONS?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.
grew EPS 98. 6% year-over-year, compared to 21. 7% for Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 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 — RNAZ or IONS?
TransCode Therapeutics, Inc.
(RNAZ) is the more profitable company, earning 0. 0% net margin versus -40. 4% for Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RNAZ leads at 0. 0% versus -40. 5% for IONS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — IONS leads at 98. 3%, 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 — RNAZ or IONS?
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 RNAZ or IONS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(IONS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 55), +121. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (IONS: +121. 1%, RNAZ: -100. 0%), 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 RNAZ and IONS?
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: RNAZ is a small-cap quality compounder stock; IONS is a mid-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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.