A vs. VRTX: Agilent vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but A is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while VRTX is classified in Biotechnology.

Company profile comparison for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Profile Item	A	VRTX
Name	AgileThought, Inc. Class A Common Stock	Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS Industry	Life Sciences Tools & Services	Biotechnology
GICS Sub-Industry	Life Sciences Tools & Services	Biotechnology
Market Capitalization	49.28 billion USD	138.71 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 18, 1999	July 24, 1991
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

VRTX

GSPC

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
Total Return (1Y)	22.92%	34.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	19.33%	14.44%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	3.03%	23.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

VRTX

GSPC

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	33.10%	29.73%
Beta (5Y)	1.22	0.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-38.09%	-29.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.25M	1.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

A and VRTX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.56	1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.96	1.68

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Agilent (A) at 20.97% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.97%

Max: 109.18%
A: 20.97%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.80%

Max: 109.18%
VRTX: 20.80%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Agilent (A) at 19.53% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 30.70% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.53%

A: 19.53%
Max: 18.05%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.70%

VRTX: 30.70%
Max: 18.05%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Agilent (A) at 25.56% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.57% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.56%

Max: 83.12%
A: 25.56%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.57%

Max: 83.12%
VRTX: 35.57%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
ROE (TTM)	20.97%	20.80%
ROA (TTM)	8.63%	10.62%
Net Margin (TTM)	19.53%	30.70%
Operating Margin (TTM)	25.56%	35.57%
Gross Margin (TTM)	53.65%	54.81%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Agilent (A) at 6.73% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 8.90% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Agilent (A) reports EPS growth of 3.16%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.73%	8.90%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	0.48%	10.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)	3.16%	--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.02%	6.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Agilent (A) at 2.05 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 2.34 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.05

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
A: 2.05
Min: 0.10

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.34

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
VRTX: 2.34
Min: 0.10

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Agilent (A) at 0.56 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.56

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
A: 0.56
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.31

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
VRTX: 0.31
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	2.05	2.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.56	0.31
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.15	0.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Agilent (A) reports a yield of 0.59%, ranking against industry peers normally.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.59%

A: 0.59%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

VRTX: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Agilent (A) reports a payout of 19.98%, ranking against industry peers normally.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.98%

A: 19.98%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

VRTX: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.59%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	19.98%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Agilent (A) at 34.47 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.21 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.47

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
A: 34.47
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.21

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
VRTX: 35.21
Median: 26.69
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Agilent (A) at 6.68 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.68

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
A: 6.68
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.71

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
VRTX: 10.71
Median: 7.30
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Agilent (A) at 6.69 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 6.63 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

A

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.69

Max: 13.53
A: 6.69
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

VRTX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.63

Max: 13.53
VRTX: 6.63
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

Agilent (A) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Agilent (A) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Metric	A	VRTX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.47	35.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.68	10.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.69	6.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.15%	1.69%