TLPH
Talphera, Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Market Cap$43M
5Y Perf.-96.8%
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Stock Comparison
TLPH vs PCRX
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PCRX
Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Market Cap$930M
5Y Perf.-46.2%
TLPH vs PCRX — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | TLPH | PCRX |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| Market Cap | $43M | $930M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $28K | $735M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-14M | $9M |
| Gross Margin | -40.8% | 60.2% |
| Operating Margin | -481.6% | 3.4% |
| Forward P/E | — | 8.6x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $454M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $6M | $159M |
TLPH vs PCRX — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
TLPH
PCRX
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talphera, Inc. (TLPH) | 100 | 3.2 | -96.8% |
| Pacira BioSciences,… (PCRX) | 100 | 53.8 | -46.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: TLPH vs PCRX
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PCRX leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Talphera, 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.
TLPH
Talphera, Inc.
The Momentum Pick
TLPH is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +70.5% vs PCRX's -6.1%
Best for: momentum
PCRX
Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
The Income Pick
PCRX carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.47
- Rev growth 3.6%, EPS growth 107.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.9%
- -51.2% 10Y total return vs TLPH's -98.6%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | PCRX | 3.6% revenue growth vs TLPH's -18.2% |
| Quality / Margins | PCRX | 1.3% margin vs TLPH's -510.4% |
| Stability / Safety | PCRX | Beta 0.47 vs TLPH's 1.10 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | TLPH | +70.5% vs PCRX's -6.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PCRX | 0.7% ROA vs TLPH's -62.2%, ROIC 2.3% vs -120.3% |
TLPH vs PCRX — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
TLPH vs PCRX — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLPCRXLAGGINGTLPH
TLPHTalphera, Inc.
0leads
PCRXPacira BioSciences, I…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs TLPHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
PCRX4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
PCRX2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
PCRX5/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
PCRX2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PCRX leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PCRX is the larger business by revenue, generating $735M annually — 26245.1x TLPH's $28,000. PCRX is the more profitable business, keeping 1.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to TLPH's -510.4%.
| Metric | TLPHTalphera, Inc. | PCRXPacira BioScience… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $28,000 | $735M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$11M | $95M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$14M | $9M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$11M | $133M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | -40.8% | +60.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -481.6% | +3.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -510.4% | +1.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -405.9% | +18.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +5.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +56.1% | -30.0% |
PCRX leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
PCRX leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | TLPHTalphera, Inc. | PCRXPacira BioScience… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $43M | $930M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $37M | $1.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.58x | 147.75x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 8.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 9.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1547.32x | 1.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.19x | 1.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 6.80x |
PCRX leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PCRX leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PCRX delivers a 1.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $1 in annual profit, vs $-118 for TLPH. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PCRX scores 9/9 vs TLPH's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | TLPHTalphera, Inc. | PCRXPacira BioScience… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -118.0% | +1.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -62.2% | +0.7% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -120.3% | +2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -65.0% | +2.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 9 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.66x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$6M | $296M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $159M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $454M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 2.37x |
PCRX leads this category, winning 5 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — TLPH and PCRX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PCRX five years ago would be worth $3,738 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $385 for TLPH. Over the past 12 months, TLPH leads with a +70.5% total return vs PCRX's -6.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TLPH at 5.9% vs PCRX's -17.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TLPHTalphera, Inc. | PCRXPacira BioScience… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -24.3% | -3.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +70.5% | -6.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +18.7% | -44.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -96.1% | -62.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -98.6% | -51.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +5.9% | -17.6% |
Evenly matched — TLPH and PCRX each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PCRX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PCRX is the less volatile stock with a 0.47 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TLPH's 1.10 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PCRX currently trades 85.5% from its 52-week high vs TLPH's 55.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TLPHTalphera, Inc. | PCRXPacira BioScience… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.10x | 0.47x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $1.57 | $27.64 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.38 | $18.80 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +55.9% | +85.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.7 | 45.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 164K | 695K |
PCRX leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | TLPHTalphera, Inc. | PCRXPacira BioScience… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $29.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +16.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
PCRX leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Income & Cash Flow and Valuation Metrics. 1 category is tied.
Best OverallPacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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TLPH vs PCRX: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is TLPH or PCRX a better buy right now?
Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) offers the better valuation at 147. 8x trailing P/E (8. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (PCRX) a "Hold" — based on 36 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 — TLPH or PCRX?
Over the past 5 years, Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) delivered a total return of -62. 6%, compared to -96. 1% for Talphera, Inc. (TLPH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PCRX returned -51. 2% versus TLPH's -98. 6%. 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 — TLPH or PCRX?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 47β versus Talphera, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning TLPH is approximately 134% more volatile than PCRX relative to the S&P 500.
04Which is growing faster — TLPH or PCRX?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
grew EPS 107. 4% year-over-year, compared to 32. 0% for Talphera, 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 — TLPH or PCRX?
Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 0% net margin versus -510. 4% for Talphera, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PCRX leads at 4. 6% versus -481. 6% for TLPH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PCRX leads at 79. 4%, 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 — TLPH or PCRX?
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 TLPH or PCRX better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Pacira BioSciences, Inc.
(PCRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 47)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PCRX: -51. 2%, TLPH: -98. 6%), 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 TLPH and PCRX?
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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