Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) vs Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) 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 |  XOMAP | 498.7% revenue growth vs LGND's 27.3% |
| Value |  LGND | Lower P/E (24.6x vs 38.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | XOMAP | 46.1% net margin vs LGND's 19.3% |
| Stability / Safety | XOMAP | Beta 0.13 vs LGND's 0.82 |
| Dividends | XOMAP | 1.8% yield; LGND pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LGND | +81.1% vs XOMAP's +8.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | XOMAP | 8.3% ROA vs LGND's 3.3%, ROIC -37.6% vs -2.3% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
XOMAPDividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.13, yield 1.8%
Growth exposure
XOMAPRev growth 498.7%, EPS growth 59.2%, 3Y rev CAGR -9.3%
Long-term compounding (10Y)
LGND104.3% 10Y total return vs XOMAP's 50.5%
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
XOMAPLower volatility, beta 0.13, current ratio 5.15x
Defensive / Recession hedge
XOMAPBeta 0.13, yield 1.8%, current ratio 5.15x
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
XOMA Corporation is a biotechnology royalty aggregator that acquires future economic rights to pre-commercial therapeutic candidates licensed to pharmaceutical partners. It generates revenue primarily through milestone payments and royalties from its portfolio of approximately 70 early to mid-stage clinical assets — with no single asset dominating its income stream. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in evaluating and structuring royalty agreements for complex biotech assets, creating a diversified portfolio of potential future revenue streams.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and acquires drug discovery technologies and royalty-bearing assets for pharmaceutical partners. It generates revenue primarily through royalties from partnered drug sales — including blockbusters like Kyprolis and Veklury — supplemented by milestone payments and contract research services. Its key competitive advantage lies in its diversified portfolio of royalty streams and its Captisol drug formulation technology, which creates multiple revenue sources from single platform innovations.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
LGND 4XOMAP 0LGND4/6 metricsLGND7/9 metricsLGND5/6 metricsLGND1/1 metricsLGND leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 2 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
LGND is the larger business by revenue, generating $251M annually — 5.3x XOMAP's $47M. XOMAP is the more profitable business, keeping 46.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LGND's 19.3%. On growth, LGND holds the edge at +122.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | XOMAPXOMA Corporation | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $47M | $251M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $13M | $52M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $22M | $49M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $31M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +93.6% | +85.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -15.0% | +7.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +46.1% | +19.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +11.4% | +12.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +29.9% | +122.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +144.0% | +15.6% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | XOMAPXOMA Corporation | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $317M | $4.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $335M | $4.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -15.62x | -949.77x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 38.69x | 24.61x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 319.95x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 11.14x | 24.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.68x | 4.60x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 53.06x |
Profitability & Efficiency
XOMAP delivers a 20.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 in annual profit, vs $5 for LGND. LGND carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to XOMAP's 1.46x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LGND scores 5/9 vs XOMAP's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | XOMAPXOMA Corporation | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.1% | +5.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.3% | +3.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -37.6% | -2.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -19.4% | -2.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.46x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $18M | -$65M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $102M | $72M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $119M | $7M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.20x | 22.69x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in XOMAP five years ago would be worth $14,590 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,470 for LGND. Over the past 12 months, LGND leads with a +81.1% total return vs XOMAP's +8.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LGND at 43.0% vs XOMAP's 8.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | XOMAPXOMA Corporation | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -3.0% | +9.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +8.7% | +81.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.1% | +192.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +45.9% | +44.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +50.5% | +104.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +8.9% | +43.0% |
Risk & Volatility
XOMAP is the less volatile stock with a 0.13 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LGND's 0.82 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LGND currently trades 98.3% from its 52-week high vs XOMAP's 85.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | XOMAPXOMA Corporation | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.13x | 0.82x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.00 | $212.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $24.96 | $93.58 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +85.9% | +98.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 38.3 | 64.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 991 | 198K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates XOMAP as "Buy" and LGND as "Buy". XOMAP is the only dividend payer here at 1.81% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | XOMAPXOMA Corporation | LGNDLigand Pharmaceut… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $248.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 16 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.47 | — |
| 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 | Dec 20 | Mar 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) | 100 | 105.49 | +5.5% |
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 100 | 200.41 | +100.4% |
XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) returned +46% over 5 years vs Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND)'s +45%. A $10,000 investment in XOMAP 5 years ago would be worth $14,590 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) | $55M | $28M | -48.6% |
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | $72M | $167M | +132.4% |
XOMA Corporation's revenue grew from $55M (2015) to $28M (2024) — a -7.1% CAGR. Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's revenue grew from $72M (2015) to $167M (2024) — a 9.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) | -37.2% | -48.5% | -30.6% |
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 3.6% | -2.4% | -167.4% |
XOMA Corporation's net margin went from -37% (2015) to -49% (2024). Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's net margin went from 4% (2015) to -2% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 5 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 258.4 | 24.3 | -90.6% |
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated has traded in a 3x–258x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-950x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) | -1.82 | -1.65 | +9.3% |
| Ligand Pharmaceutic… (LGND) | 12.12 | -0.22 | -101.8% |
XOMA Corporation's EPS grew from $-1.82 (2015) to $-1.65 (2024). Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's EPS grew from $12.12 (2015) to $-0.22 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
XOMA Corporation generated $-14M FCF in 2024 (-260% vs 2021). Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated generated $77M FCF in 2024 (+11% vs 2021).
XOMAP vs LGND: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is XOMAP or LGND a better buy right now?
Analysts rate XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — XOMAP or LGND?
Over the past 5 years, XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) delivered a total return of +45.9%, compared to +44.7% for Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND). A $10,000 investment in XOMAP five years ago would be worth approximately $15K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: LGND returned +104.3% versus XOMAP's +50.5%. 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 — XOMAP or LGND?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) is the lower-risk stock at 0.13β versus Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's 0.82β — meaning LGND is approximately 515% more volatile than XOMAP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 146% for XOMA Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — XOMAP or LGND?
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) is the more profitable company, earning -2.4% net margin versus -48.5% for XOMA Corporation — meaning it keeps -2.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: LGND leads at -13.5% versus -140.3% for XOMAP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XOMAP leads at 99.3%, 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 XOMAP or LGND more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) trades at 24.6x forward P/E versus 38.7x for XOMA Corporation — 14.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
06Which pays a better dividend — XOMAP or LGND?
In this comparison, XOMAP (1.8% yield) pays a dividend. LGND does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is XOMAP or LGND better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, XOMA Corporation (XOMAP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.13), 1.8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XOMAP: +50.5%, LGND: +104.3%), 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 XOMAP and LGND?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. XOMAP pays a dividend while LGND does 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.
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