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ARGX vs. WST: argenx vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison

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

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
Profile ItemARGXWST
Nameargenx SE American Depositary ReceiptWest Pharmaceutical Services 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 USD27.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 18, 2017March 17, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ARGX
WST
GSPC
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST), 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for argenx (ARGX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
Total Return (1Y)11.91%51.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)25.68%7.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.22%0.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for argenx (ARGX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)37.87%31.45%
Beta (5Y)0.451.13
Max Drawdown (5Y)-38.20%-59.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)359.84K603.86K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ARGX and WST 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.201.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.312.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) earns 21.23% 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
--

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.23%

Max
109.18%
WST
21.23%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): ARGX does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; WST is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 18.81% 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.81%

WST
18.81%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 25.37% 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.37%

Max
83.12%
WST
25.37%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for argenx (ARGX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
ROE (TTM)--21.23%
ROA (TTM)--11.89%
Net Margin (TTM)31.73%18.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)36.27%25.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)59.84%37.59%

Growth

Revenue Growth

argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 6.25% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARGX.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both argenx (ARGX) at 53.13% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 1.49% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for argenx (ARGX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
Revenue Growth (YoY)89.64%6.25%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)116.25%2.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)53.13%1.49%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---4.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) shows current ratio of 2.82 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
--

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.82

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
WST
2.82
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): ARGX does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; WST 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.11

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
WST
0.11
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
Current Ratio (MRQ)--2.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.010.11
Net Debt / EBITDA-2.70-0.16

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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a yield of 0.22%, 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.22%

WST
0.22%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a payout of 9.88%, 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.88%

WST
9.88%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for argenx (ARGX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.22%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%9.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

argenx (ARGX) at 32.12 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.87 sits in the richer quartile — WST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

44.87

Max
85.34
WST
44.87
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 8.20 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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.20

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
WST
8.20
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): 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: West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.40 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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.40

Max
13.53
WST
9.40
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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argenx (ARGX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for argenx (ARGX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricARGXWST
P/E Ratio (TTM)32.1244.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.868.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)172.239.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--1.24%