Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) 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 |  AGIO | 48.0% revenue growth vs VCYT's 16.0% |
| Quality / Margins |  VCYT | 12.8% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AGIO | Beta 0.91 vs VCYT's 1.12 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VCYT | +10.0% vs AGIO's -17.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | VCYT | 4.7% ROA vs AGIO's -29.0%, ROIC 4.4% vs -26.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
AGIObeta 0.91
Growth exposure
AGIORev growth 48.0%, EPS growth -161.2%, 3Y rev CAGR 56.0%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
VCYT443.8% 10Y total return vs AGIO's -40.9%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
AGIOLower volatility, beta 0.91, Low D/E 3.4%, current ratio 11.46x
Defensive / Recession hedge
AGIOBeta 0.91, current ratio 11.46x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Veracyte is a molecular diagnostics company that develops genomic tests to improve cancer and other disease diagnosis and treatment decisions. It generates revenue primarily from diagnostic test sales — including its Afirma thyroid, Decipher prostate, and Percepta lung cancer tests — with additional income from technology licensing partnerships. The company's competitive advantage lies in its proprietary genomic classifiers and biobank of clinical samples that enable development of clinically validated tests with strong physician adoption.
Agios Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases related to cellular metabolism. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its lead drug PYRUKYND for pyruvate kinase deficiency — with additional income from research collaborations and milestone payments — while advancing a pipeline of other metabolic therapies. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in cellular metabolism science and proprietary platform for targeting metabolic pathways in rare diseases.
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
VCYT 3AGIO 1VCYT4/6 metricsAGIO2/3 metricsVCYT8/8 metricsVCYT5/6 metricsVCYT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AGIO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
VCYT is the larger business by revenue, generating $517M annually — 11.5x AGIO's $45M. VCYT is the more profitable business, keeping 12.8% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, AGIO holds the edge at +43.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $517M | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $74M | -$470M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $66M | -$401M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $126M | -$414M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.1% | +84.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | -10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.8% | -9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +24.4% | -9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.5% | +43.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.3% | -111.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.9B | $1.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.6B | $1.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 44.23x | -3.96x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.03x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 44.23x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.57x | 30.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.23x | 1.37x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 22.73x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
VCYT delivers a 5.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $-31 for AGIO. VCYT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AGIO's 0.03x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VCYT scores 8/9 vs AGIO's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.1% | -31.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.7% | -29.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.4% | -26.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.5% | -33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$323M | -$49M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $363M | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $40M | $40M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in VCYT five years ago would be worth $7,634 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $5,766 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, VCYT leads with a +10.0% total return vs AGIO's -17.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors VCYT at 15.2% vs AGIO's 5.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -14.4% | +3.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.0% | -17.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +52.8% | +16.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.7% | -42.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +443.8% | -40.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.2% | +5.3% |
Risk & Volatility
AGIO is the less volatile stock with a 0.91 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than VCYT's 1.12 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VCYT currently trades 71.5% from its 52-week high vs AGIO's 61.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.12x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $50.71 | $46.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.61 | $22.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.5% | +61.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 39.9 | 48.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 807K | 896K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates VCYT as "Buy" and AGIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 47.2% upside for AGIO (target: $42) vs 30.3% for VCYT (target: $47).
| Metric | VCYTVeracyte, Inc. | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $47.25 | $41.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | 100 | 145.44 | +45.4% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 60.08 | -39.9% |
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) returned -24% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -42%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | $65M | $517M | +694.6% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
Veracyte, Inc.'s revenue grew from $65M (2016) to $517M (2025) — a 25.9% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $70M (2016) to $54M (2025) — a -2.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | -48.2% | 12.8% | +126.6% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
Veracyte, Inc.'s net margin went from -48% (2016) to 13% (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) | -1.09 | 0.82 | +175.2% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
Veracyte, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-1.09 (2016) to $0.82 (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Veracyte, Inc. generated $127M FCF in 2025 (+442% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
VCYT vs AGIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VCYT or AGIO a better buy right now?
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) offers the better valuation at 44.2x trailing P/E (22.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) a "Buy" — based on 20 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 — VCYT or AGIO?
Over the past 5 years, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) delivered a total return of -23.7%, compared to -42.3% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in VCYT five years ago would be worth approximately $8K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: VCYT returned +443.8% versus AGIO's -40.9%. 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 — VCYT or AGIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.91β versus Veracyte, Inc.'s 1.12β — meaning VCYT is approximately 24% more volatile than AGIO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — VCYT or AGIO?
Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) is the more profitable company, earning 12.8% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 12.8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: VCYT leads at 11.2% versus -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGIO leads at 88.3%, 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.
05Is VCYT or AGIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGIO: 47.2% to $41.50.
06Which pays a better dividend — VCYT or AGIO?
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 VCYT or AGIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Veracyte, Inc. (VCYT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.12), +443.8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (VCYT: +443.8%, AGIO: -40.9%), 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 VCYT and AGIO?
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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