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ARGX vs. ASND: argenx vs. Ascendis Pharma Stock Comparison

How do argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) 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

argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) are both classified in the Biotechnology sub-industry within the broader Biotechnology industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Ascendis Pharma (ASND) trades as ordinary local shares, while argenx (ARGX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
Profile ItemARGXASND
Nameargenx SE American Depositary ReceiptAscendis Pharma A/S
Country/RegionNetherlandsDenmark
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyBiotechnology
Market Capitalization58.31 billion USD16.90 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 18, 2017January 28, 2015
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ARGX
ASND
GSPC
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND), 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 argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
Total Return (1Y)11.91%29.46%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.68%40.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.22%10.03%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ARGX
ASND
GSPC
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND), 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 argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.87%38.62%
Beta (5Y)0.450.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.20%-55.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)359.84K698.39K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ARGX and ASND 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 argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.200.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.310.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Ascendis Pharma (ASND) earns 118.78% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; argenx (ARGX) has no ROE this period.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
ARGX
--

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

118.78%

ASND
118.78%
Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): ARGX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ASND is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 70.85% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.73%

ARGX
31.73%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

70.85%

ASND
70.85%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both argenx (ARGX) at 36.27% and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 64.98% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.27%

Max
83.12%
ARGX
36.27%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

64.98%

Max
83.12%
ASND
64.98%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
ROE (TTM)--118.78%
ROA (TTM)--9.58%
Net Margin (TTM)31.73%70.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.27%64.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.84%91.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 98.03% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: argenx (ARGX) reports EPS growth of 53.13%, ranked against its industry; Ascendis Pharma (ASND) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
Revenue Growth (YoY)89.64%98.03%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)116.25%141.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)53.13%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Ascendis Pharma (ASND) shows current ratio of 2.99 against its industry benchmark, while argenx (ARGX) has no reading this period.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
ARGX
--

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.99

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
ASND
2.99
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): ARGX does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ASND is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

argenx (ARGX) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 0.31 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.01

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
ARGX
0.01
Min
0.00

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.31

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
ASND
0.31
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
Current Ratio (MRQ)--2.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.010.31
Net Debt / EBITDA-2.70-1.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither argenx (ARGX) nor Ascendis Pharma (ASND) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ARGX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ASND
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither argenx (ARGX) nor Ascendis Pharma (ASND) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ARGX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ASND
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both argenx (ARGX) at 32.12 and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 19.68 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.12

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
ARGX
32.12
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.68

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
ASND
19.68
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
Loading chart…
argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): 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 argenx (ARGX) at 9.86 and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 16.14 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.86

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
ARGX
9.86
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.14

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
ASND
16.14
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 10.45 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and argenx (ARGX) at 172.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.

ARGX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

172.23

ARGX
172.23
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.45

Max
13.53
ASND
10.45
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
Loading chart…
argenx (ARGX) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricARGXASND
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.1219.68
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.8616.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)172.2310.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--0.08%