Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (STRO) vs Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) 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 | EXEL | 7.0% revenue growth vs STRO's -59.6% |
| Quality / Margins | EXEL | 29.6% net margin vs STRO's -205.2% |
| Stability / Safety | EXEL | Beta 0.63 vs STRO's 1.22, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | STRO | +11.9% vs EXEL's +13.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | EXEL | 24.0% ROA vs STRO's -103.4%, ROIC 32.1% vs -207.6% |
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
Sutro Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing protein therapeutics — primarily antibody-drug conjugates — for cancer and autoimmune disorders using its proprietary cell-free manufacturing platform. It generates revenue through strategic collaborations and licensing deals with pharmaceutical partners like Merck and Celgene, which provide upfront payments, milestone fees, and potential future royalties on commercialized products. The company's key competitive advantage is its XpressCF+ platform, which enables precise engineering of complex protein therapeutics with site-specific modifications that are difficult to achieve with traditional cell-based systems.
Exelixis is an oncology-focused biotechnology company that discovers, develops, and commercializes targeted cancer therapies. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its flagship drug Cabometyx — which accounts for the vast majority of its revenue — along with royalties from partnered products like Cotellic. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in tyrosine kinase inhibitors and its focused pipeline targeting difficult-to-treat cancers.
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
EXEL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). STRO leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
EXEL is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.3B annually — 21.7x STRO's $106M. EXEL is the more profitable business, keeping 29.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to STRO's -2.1%.
| Metric | STROSutro Biopharma, … | EXELExelixis, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $106M | $2.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$178M | $830M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$217M | $678M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$225M | $753M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +100.0% | +96.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -175.7% | +35.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.1% | +29.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.1% | +32.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +13.8% | +10.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -13.6% | +75.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | STROSutro Biopharma, … | EXELExelixis, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $11.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.8B | $11.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -6.92x | 15.85x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 13.29x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.31x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 13.19x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 28.08x | 5.09x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 35.26x | 5.75x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 13.36x |
Profitability & Efficiency
EXEL delivers a 31.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $31 in annual profit, vs $-2 for STRO. EXEL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.08x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to STRO's 4.57x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), EXEL scores 7/9 vs STRO's 1/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | STROSutro Biopharma, … | EXELExelixis, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -2.3% | +31.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -103.4% | +24.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -2.1% | +32.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -75.4% | +35.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 1 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 4.57x | 0.08x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $14M | -$309M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $190M | $482M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $204M | $173M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -3.96x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EXEL five years ago would be worth $19,758 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $8,900 for STRO. Over the past 12 months, STRO leads with a +1187.4% total return vs EXEL's +13.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors STRO at 53.7% vs EXEL's 37.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | STROSutro Biopharma, … | EXELExelixis, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +86.8% | +1.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1187.4% | +13.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +262.9% | +158.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.0% | +97.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.7% | +1110.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +53.7% | +37.1% |
Risk & Volatility
EXEL is the less volatile stock with a 0.63 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than STRO's 1.22 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. STRO currently trades 97.8% from its 52-week high vs EXEL's 88.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | STROSutro Biopharma, … | EXELExelixis, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.22x | 0.63x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $20.93 | $49.62 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.52 | $32.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.8% | +88.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 72.3 | 53.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 109K | 2.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates STRO as "Buy" and EXEL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 0.8% upside for EXEL (target: $44) vs -51.8% for STRO (target: $10).
| Metric | STROSutro Biopharma, … | EXELExelixis, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $9.86 | $44.40 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 19 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +8.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutro Biopharma, In… (STRO) | 100 | 156.31 | +56.3% |
| Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) | 100 | 221.93 | +121.9% |
Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) returned +98% over 5 years vs Sutro Biopharma, In… (STRO)'s -11%. A $10,000 investment in EXEL 5 years ago would be worth $19,758 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutro Biopharma, In… (STRO) | $60M | $62M | +3.9% |
| Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) | $191M | $2.3B | +1111.8% |
Exelixis, Inc.'s revenue grew from $191M (2016) to $2.3B (2025) — a 31.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutro Biopharma, In… (STRO) | 2.8% | -3.7% | -228.7% |
| Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) | -36.7% | 33.7% | +192.0% |
Exelixis, Inc.'s net margin went from -37% (2016) to 34% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) | 62 | 15.8 | -74.5% |
Exelixis, Inc. has traded in a 9x–62x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~16x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sutro Biopharma, In… (STRO) | 3.86 | -2.96 | -176.7% |
| Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) | -0.28 | 2.78 | +1092.9% |
Exelixis, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.28 (2016) to $2.78 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Sutro Biopharma, Inc. generated $-195M FCF in 2024 (-101% vs 2021). Exelixis, Inc. generated $884M FCF in 2025 (+163% vs 2021).
STRO vs EXEL: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is STRO or EXEL a better buy right now?
Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) offers the better valuation at 15.8x trailing P/E (13.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (STRO) a "Buy" — based on 19 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 — STRO or EXEL?
Over the past 5 years, Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) delivered a total return of +97.6%, compared to -11.0% for Sutro Biopharma, Inc. (STRO). A $10,000 investment in EXEL five years ago would be worth approximately $20K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EXEL returned +1110% versus STRO's +34.7%. 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 — STRO or EXEL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.63β versus Sutro Biopharma, Inc.'s 1.22β — meaning STRO is approximately 94% more volatile than EXEL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 8% versus 5% for Sutro Biopharma, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — STRO or EXEL?
Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) is the more profitable company, earning 33.7% net margin versus -366.6% for Sutro Biopharma, Inc. — meaning it keeps 33.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXEL leads at 37.6% versus -384.3% for STRO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EXEL leads at 96.6%, 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.
05Is STRO or EXEL more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXEL: 0.8% to $44.40.
06Which pays a better dividend — STRO or EXEL?
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 STRO or EXEL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.63), +1110% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXEL: +1110%, STRO: +34.7%), 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 STRO and EXEL?
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: STRO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; EXEL is a mid-cap deep-value 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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