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ARGX vs. ILMN: argenx vs. Illumina Stock Comparison

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

Illumina (ILMN) 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 Illumina (ILMN)
Profile ItemARGXILMN
Nameargenx SE American Depositary ReceiptIllumina Inc.
Country/RegionNetherlandsUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization58.31 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 18, 2017July 28, 2000
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
Total Return (1Y)11.91%79.70%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.68%28.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.22%-10.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Illumina (ILMN) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while argenx (ARGX) is defensive at 0.45 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.87%48.47%
Beta (5Y)0.451.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.20%-82.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)359.84K2.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ARGX and ILMN 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 Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.201.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.312.25

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Illumina (ILMN) earns 32.39% 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
--

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.39%

Max
109.18%
ILMN
32.39%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): ARGX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; ILMN is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% and Illumina (ILMN) at 19.72% 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.72%

ILMN
19.72%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Illumina (ILMN) at 20.02% 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.02%

Max
83.12%
ILMN
20.02%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
ROE (TTM)--32.39%
ROA (TTM)--8.32%
Net Margin (TTM)31.73%19.72%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.27%20.02%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.84%67.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Illumina (ILMN) at -0.66% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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; Illumina (ILMN) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
Revenue Growth (YoY)89.64%-0.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)116.25%-1.78%
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: Illumina (ILMN) shows current ratio of 2.63 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
--

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
ILMN
2.63
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): ARGX does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; ILMN 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 Illumina (ILMN) at 0.74 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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.74

Max
1.42
ILMN
0.74
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
Current Ratio (MRQ)--2.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.010.74
Net Debt / EBITDA-2.700.85

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither argenx (ARGX) nor Illumina (ILMN) 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither argenx (ARGX) nor Illumina (ILMN) 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%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
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 Illumina (ILMN) at 36.68 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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.68

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
ILMN
36.68
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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 Illumina (ILMN) at 7.10 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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.10

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
ILMN
7.10
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
Loading chart…
argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): 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: Illumina (ILMN) at 10.30 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

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.30

Max
13.53
ILMN
10.30
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
Loading chart…
argenx (ARGX) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for argenx (ARGX) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricARGXILMN
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.1236.68
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.867.10
P/B Ratio (MRQ)172.2310.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--2.67%