WVE
Wave Life Sciences Ltd.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$1.12B
5Y Perf.-44.2%
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Side-by-side financial analysisWVE
BEAM
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Stock Comparison
WVE vs BEAM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
BEAM
Beam Therapeutics Inc.
Biotechnology
Market Cap$3.02B
5Y Perf.+17.6%
WVE vs BEAM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  WVE |  BEAM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Cap | $1.12B | $3.02B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $72M | $132M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-184M | $-65M |
| Gross Margin | 93.8% | -64.2% |
| Operating Margin | -274.2% | -281.0% |
| Total Debt | $18M | $294M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $602M | $295M |
WVE vs BEAM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
WVE
BEAM
| Stock | Jun 20 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wave Life Sciences … (WVE) | 100 | 55.8 | -44.2% |
| Beam Therapeutics I… (BEAM) | 100 | 117.6 | +17.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: WVE vs BEAM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: BEAM leads in 4 of 6 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Wave Life Sciences Ltd. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
🥇BEAM emerged as the overall leader. Track its performance:
WVE
Wave Life Sciences Ltd.
The Income Pick
WVE is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 1.82
- Lower volatility, beta 1.82, Low D/E 3.4%, current ratio 6.47x
- Beta 1.82, current ratio 6.47x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
BEAM
Beam Therapeutics Inc.
The Growth Play
BEAM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 120.0%, EPS growth 82.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 31.9%
- 56.9% 10Y total return vs WVE's -62.8%
- 120.0% revenue growth vs WVE's -60.5%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  BEAM | 120.0% revenue growth vs WVE's -60.5% |
| Quality / Margins | BEAM | -49.2% margin vs WVE's -255.7% |
| Stability / Safety |  WVE | Beta 1.82 vs BEAM's 2.27, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BEAM | +64.4% vs WVE's -19.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BEAM | -4.6% ROA vs WVE's -42.8% |
WVE vs BEAM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLBEAMLAGGINGWVE
WVEWave Life Sciences Lt…
1leads
BEAMBeam Therapeutics Inc.
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs WVEMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
WVE5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BEAM2/3
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
BEAM4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
WVE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BEAM is the larger business by revenue, generating $132M annually — 1.8x WVE's $72M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -49.2% (BEAM) to -2.6% (WVE). On growth, WVE holds the edge at +3.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | WVEWave Life Science… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $72M | $132M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$188M | -$355M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$184M | -$65M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$183M | -$384M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +93.8% | -64.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.7% | -2.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.6% | -49.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.6% | -2.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.2% | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +55.2% | +26.6% |
WVE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BEAM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | WVEWave Life Science… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.1B | $3.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $533M | $3.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4.80x | -36.31x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 26.16x | 21.62x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.86x | 2.35x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
BEAM leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BEAM leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
BEAM delivers a -5.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-6 in annual profit, vs $-56 for WVE. WVE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BEAM's 0.24x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BEAM scores 4/9 vs WVE's 3/9, reflecting mixed financial health.
| Metric | WVEWave Life Science… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -56.4% | -5.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -42.8% | -4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | -31.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -54.9% | -33.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 0.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$584M | -$1M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $602M | $295M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $18M | $294M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 1.08x |
BEAM leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — WVE and BEAM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in WVE five years ago would be worth $8,025 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,313 for BEAM. Over the past 12 months, BEAM leads with a +64.4% total return vs WVE's -19.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WVE at 11.6% vs BEAM's -3.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WVEWave Life Science… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -63.6% | +8.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -19.2% | +64.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.0% | -10.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -19.8% | -66.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -62.8% | +56.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.6% | -3.7% |
Evenly matched — WVE and BEAM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — WVE and BEAM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
WVE is the less volatile stock with a 1.82 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEAM's 2.27 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEAM currently trades 80.7% from its 52-week high vs WVE's 26.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | WVEWave Life Science… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.82x | 2.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $21.73 | $36.44 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $5.02 | $15.60 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +26.7% | +80.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 34.2 | 48.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.7M | 1.9M |
Evenly matched — WVE and BEAM each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WVE as "Buy" and BEAM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 354.0% upside for WVE (target: $26) vs 63.2% for BEAM (target: $48).
| Metric | WVEWave Life Science… | BEAMBeam Therapeutics… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.38 | $48.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
BEAM leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). WVE leads in 1 (Income & Cash Flow). 2 tied.
Best OverallBeam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM)Leads 2 of 6 categories
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WVE vs BEAM: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WVE or BEAM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Beam Therapeutics Inc.
(BEAM) is the stronger pick with 120. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -60. 5% for Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (WVE). Analysts rate Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (WVE) a "Buy" — based on 25 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 — WVE or BEAM?
Over the past 5 years, Wave Life Sciences Ltd.
(WVE) delivered a total return of -19. 8%, compared to -66. 9% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BEAM returned +56. 9% versus WVE's -62. 8%. 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 — WVE or BEAM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Wave Life Sciences Ltd.
(WVE) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 82β versus Beam Therapeutics Inc. 's 2. 27β — meaning BEAM is approximately 25% more volatile than WVE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (WVE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 24% for Beam Therapeutics Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — WVE or BEAM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Beam Therapeutics Inc.
(BEAM) is pulling ahead at 120. 0% versus -60. 5% for Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (WVE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Beam Therapeutics Inc. grew EPS 82. 3% year-over-year, compared to -72. 9% for Wave Life Sciences Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WVE leads at 127. 1% 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.
05Which has better profit margins — WVE or BEAM?
Beam Therapeutics Inc.
(BEAM) is the more profitable company, earning -57. 2% net margin versus -478. 3% for Wave Life Sciences Ltd. — meaning it keeps -57. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BEAM leads at -274. 6% versus -504. 1% for WVE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BEAM leads at 84. 0%, 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 — WVE or BEAM?
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 WVE or BEAM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Wave Life Sciences Ltd.
(WVE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding. Beam Therapeutics Inc. (BEAM) carries a higher beta of 2. 27 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (WVE: -62. 8%, BEAM: +56. 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 WVE and BEAM?
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: WVE is a small-cap quality compounder stock; BEAM is a small-cap high-growth 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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