VREX vs DBVT vs ALKS vs XRAY

For growth investors, Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) is the stronger pick with 4.

1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 2% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). Alkermes plc (ALKS) offers the better valuation at 24. 8x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) a "Buy" — based on 6 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.

On forward P/E, DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.

is actually cheaper at 7. 7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Alkermes plc (ALKS) delivered a total return of +60.

9%, compared to -80. 1% for DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. (XRAY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ALKS returned -11. 0% versus DBVT's -87. 0%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.

06β versus Varex Imaging Corporation's 1. 87β — meaning VREX is approximately 77% more volatile than ALKS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alkermes plc (ALKS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 4% versus 184% for DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) is pulling ahead at 4.

1% versus -5. 2% for Alkermes plc (ALKS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. grew EPS 33. 0% year-over-year, compared to -347. 5% for DBV Technologies S. A.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ALKS leads at 9. 9% annualised revenue growth. 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.

Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the more profitable company, earning 16.

4% net margin versus -16. 3% for DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc. — meaning it keeps 16. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ALKS leads at 17. 2% versus -3. 3% for VREX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ALKS leads at 86. 7%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.

(XRAY) trades at 7. 7x forward P/E versus 13. 9x for Varex Imaging Corporation — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DBVT: 131. 8% to $46. 33.

In this comparison, XRAY (5.

9% yield) pays a dividend. VREX, DBVT, ALKS do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Alkermes plc (ALKS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.

06)). Varex Imaging Corporation (VREX) carries a higher beta of 1. 87 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALKS: -11. 0%, VREX: -58. 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.

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: VREX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; DBVT is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; ALKS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; XRAY is a small-cap income-oriented stock. XRAY pays a dividend while VREX, DBVT, ALKS do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.