UPC
Universe Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Market Cap$2M
5Y Perf.-100.0%
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Stock Comparison
UPC vs TLPH
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
TLPH
Talphera, Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic
Market Cap$43M
5Y Perf.-97.4%
UPC vs TLPH — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | UPC | TLPH |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| Market Cap | $2M | $43M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $41M | $28K |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-12M | $-14M |
| Gross Margin | 30.3% | -40.8% |
| Operating Margin | -26.7% | -481.6% |
| Total Debt | $9M | $0.00 |
| Cash & Equiv. | $34M | $6M |
UPC vs TLPH — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
UPC
TLPH
| Stock | Mar 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universe Pharmaceut… (UPC) | 100 | 0.0 | -100.0% |
| Talphera, Inc. (TLPH) | 100 | 2.6 | -97.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: UPC vs TLPH
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: TLPH leads in 3 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. Universe Pharmaceuticals 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.
UPC
Universe Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Quality Compounder
UPC is the clearest fit if your priority is quality and efficiency.
- -30.3% margin vs TLPH's -510.4%
- -18.6% ROA vs TLPH's -62.2%, ROIC -7.8% vs -120.3%
Best for: quality and efficiency
TLPH
Talphera, Inc.
The Income Pick
TLPH carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.10
- EPS growth 32.0%
- -98.6% 10Y total return vs UPC's -100.0%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | TLPH | -18.2% revenue growth vs UPC's -22.4% |
| Quality / Margins | UPC | -30.3% margin vs TLPH's -510.4% |
| Stability / Safety | TLPH | Beta 1.10 vs UPC's 1.26 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | TLPH | +70.5% vs UPC's -41.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UPC | -18.6% ROA vs TLPH's -62.2%, ROIC -7.8% vs -120.3% |
UPC vs TLPH — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLUPCLAGGINGTLPH
TLPHTalphera, Inc.
2leads
UPCUniverse Pharmaceutic…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs TLPHMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
UPC4/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
UPC2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
UPC5/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
TLPH6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
TLPH2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UPC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
UPC is the larger business by revenue, generating $41M annually — 1460.1x TLPH's $28,000. UPC is the more profitable business, keeping -30.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to TLPH's -510.4%.
| Metric | UPCUniverse Pharmace… | TLPHTalphera, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $41M | $28,000 |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$10M | -$11M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$12M | -$14M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$15M | -$11M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.3% | -40.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -26.7% | -481.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -30.3% | -510.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -37.2% | -405.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.1% | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.1% | +56.1% |
UPC leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
UPC leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | UPCUniverse Pharmace… | TLPHTalphera, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2M | $43M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | -$23M | $37M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.00x | -2.58x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.09x | 1547.32x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.00x | 2.19x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
UPC leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UPC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
UPC delivers a -27.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-27 in annual profit, vs $-118 for TLPH.
| Metric | UPCUniverse Pharmace… | TLPHTalphera, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -27.0% | -118.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -18.6% | -62.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -7.8% | -120.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.6% | -65.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.16x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$24M | -$6M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $34M | $6M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $9M | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -22.11x | — |
UPC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
TLPH leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in TLPH five years ago would be worth $385 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3 for UPC. Over the past 12 months, TLPH leads with a +70.5% total return vs UPC's -41.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TLPH at 5.9% vs UPC's -89.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UPCUniverse Pharmace… | TLPHTalphera, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -27.9% | -24.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -41.1% | +70.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -99.9% | +18.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | -96.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -100.0% | -98.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -89.3% | +5.9% |
TLPH leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TLPH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
TLPH is the less volatile stock with a 1.10 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than UPC's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TLPH currently trades 55.9% from its 52-week high vs UPC's 27.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UPCUniverse Pharmace… | TLPHTalphera, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.26x | 1.10x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $11.00 | $1.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.00 | $0.38 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +27.3% | +55.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 41.9 | 55.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 8K | 164K |
TLPH leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
| Metric | UPCUniverse Pharmace… | TLPHTalphera, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | — |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | — |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | — |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
UPC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). TLPH leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallUniverse Pharmaceuticals In… (UPC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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UPC vs TLPH: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Which is the better long-term investment — UPC or TLPH?
Over the past 5 years, Talphera, Inc.
(TLPH) delivered a total return of -96. 1%, compared to -100. 0% for Universe Pharmaceuticals Inc. (UPC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TLPH returned -98. 6% versus UPC'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.
02Which is safer — UPC or TLPH?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Talphera, Inc.
(TLPH) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Universe Pharmaceuticals Inc. 's 1. 26β — meaning UPC is approximately 15% more volatile than TLPH relative to the S&P 500.
03Which is growing faster — UPC or TLPH?
On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Talphera, Inc.
grew EPS 32. 0% year-over-year, compared to 26. 5% for Universe 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.
04Which has better profit margins — UPC or TLPH?
Universe Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(UPC) is the more profitable company, earning -20. 6% net margin versus -510. 4% for Talphera, Inc. — meaning it keeps -20. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: UPC leads at -16. 3% versus -481. 6% for TLPH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UPC leads at 35. 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.
05Which pays a better dividend — UPC or TLPH?
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.
06Is UPC or TLPH better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Talphera, Inc.
(TLPH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TLPH: -98. 6%, UPC: -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.
07What are the main differences between UPC and TLPH?
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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