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ARGX vs. GSK: argenx vs. GSK Stock Comparison

How do argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK) 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 GSK (GSK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ARGX is classified in Biotechnology while GSK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Both argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Company profile comparison for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
Profile ItemARGXGSK
Nameargenx SE American Depositary ReceiptGSK plc ADR
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization58.31 billion USD100.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 18, 2017March 28, 1980
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ARGX
GSK
GSPC
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK), 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 GSK (GSK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
Total Return (1Y)11.91%13.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.68%18.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.22%7.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.87%26.25%
Beta (5Y)0.450.31
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.20%-37.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)359.84K4.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ARGX and GSK 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 GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.200.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.310.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: GSK (GSK) earns 28.27% 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
--

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

28.27%

Max
109.18%
GSK
28.27%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): ARGX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; GSK is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and GSK (GSK) at 12.97% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

12.97%

Max
18.05%
GSK
12.97%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): 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 GSK (GSK) at 32.14% 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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.14%

Max
83.12%
GSK
32.14%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
ROE (TTM)--28.27%
ROA (TTM)--9.24%
Net Margin (TTM)31.73%12.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.27%32.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.84%73.79%

Growth

Revenue Growth

argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while GSK (GSK) at 4.11% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARGX.

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

EPS Growth

GSK (GSK) at 123.15% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while argenx (ARGX) at 53.13% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GSK.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
Revenue Growth (YoY)89.64%4.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)116.25%3.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)53.13%123.15%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---27.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: GSK (GSK) shows current ratio of 0.86 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
--

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.86

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
GSK
0.86
Min
0.10
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): ARGX does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; GSK is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

argenx (ARGX) at 0.01 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while GSK (GSK) at 1.30 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
1.42
GSK
1.30
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): 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 GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
Current Ratio (MRQ)--0.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.011.30
Net Debt / EBITDA-2.701.88

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile GSK (GSK) reports a yield of 1.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.57%

GSK
1.57%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile GSK (GSK) reports a payout of 63.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

63.33%

GSK
63.33%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.57%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%63.33%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both argenx (ARGX) at 32.12 and GSK (GSK) at 17.54 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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.54

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
GSK
17.54
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

GSK (GSK) at 3.01 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while argenx (ARGX) at 9.86 prices around its industry’s middle — GSK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.01

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

GSK (GSK) at 4.02 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while argenx (ARGX) at 172.23 prices above its benchmark range — ARGX looks rich relative to book.

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

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.02

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
GSK
4.02
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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argenx (ARGX) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for argenx (ARGX) and GSK (GSK)
MetricARGXGSK
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.1217.54
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.863.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)172.234.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--5.28%