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ASND vs. CVS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated

Here’s a clear look at ASND and CVS, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.

Company Overview

CVS towers over ASND with a market cap of 78.57 billion USD, roughly 8.23 times the 9.55 billion USD of its peer.

ASND at 0.40 and CVS at 0.60 move in sync when it comes to market volatility.

Worth noting: ASND flies the ADR flag, tying it to a foreign outfit on U.S. soil, while CVS sticks to plain-vanilla U.S. listing.

SymbolASNDCVS
Company NameAscendis Pharma A/SCVS Health Corporation
CountryDKUS
SectorHealthcareHealthcare
IndustryBiotechnologyMedical - Healthcare Plans
CEOMr. Jan Moller MikkelsenMr. J. David Joyner CEBS
Price158.1 USD62.11 USD
Market Cap9.55 billion USD78.57 billion USD
Beta0.4020.6
ExchangeNASDAQNYSE
IPO DateJanuary 28, 2015November 20, 1996
ADRYesNo

Performance Comparison

This chart compares the performance of ASND and CVS over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).

Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.

Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

Valuation Metrics Comparison

The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ASND and CVS based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.

  • ASND has a negative P/E of -24.56, indicating it’s been unprofitable over the past year with no net earnings to support its stock price. On the other hand, CVS at 14.83 has maintained positive earnings, showing a healthier profit profile.
  • ASND carries a negative Forward PEG of -2.23, hinting at analyst expectations of losses or shrinking earnings in the coming period—a potential warning for its future performance. On the flip side, CVS at 1.27 sidesteps this concern with a more favorable outlook.
  • ASND shows a negative Price-to-Book of -44.22, revealing that its liabilities surpass its assets. This precarious position suggests a fragile balance sheet, where the company’s market value hinges on factors beyond its tangible worth. On the other hand, CVS at 1.02 maintains a positive net worth, free of this troubling indicator.
  • ASND shows a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow of -27.44, meaning it’s been burning through cash faster than it can produce it over the past twelve months—a troubling sign for its financial resilience. On the flip side, CVS at 13.23 has managed to keep its cash flow in positive territory.
SymbolASNDCVS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM)-24.5614.83
Forward PEG Ratio (TTM)-2.231.27
Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM)22.900.21
Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM)-44.221.02
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM)-27.4413.23
EV-to-EBITDA (TTM)-35.7610.98
EV-to-Sales (TTM)23.790.40
EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM)-28.5225.20

Dividend Comparison

ASND pays no dividends, focusing all profits on growth, appealing to capital-gains investors. Meanwhile, CVS’s 4.28% yield rewards shareholders, showing financial confidence while supporting objectives—a contrast to ASND’s growth-only approach.

SymbolASNDCVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%4.28%

Financial Strength Metrics Comparison

This section dives into the financial resilience of ASND and CVS, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.

  • CVS’s current ratio of 0.82 dips below 1, leaving short-term liabilities larger than current assets—a scenario that could hinge on cash flow support. On the other hand, ASND at 1.04 has enough assets to handle its obligations.
  • ASND (0.71) and CVS (0.63) both clock quick ratios under 0.8. Without inventory, their liquid assets don’t match short-term debts, so they might lean on sales or loans to cover the difference—doable if cash keeps flowing.
  • ASND’s D/E of -4.46 turns negative, likely from eroded equity via losses or buybacks—an odd financial twist. By comparison, CVS holds a tame 1.06, keeping things steady.
  • ASND clocks in at -3.72 below 1.5, earnings just keeping ahead of interest—dicey if profits stumble. By contrast, CVS’s 3.18 sails through with plenty of cushion.
SymbolASNDCVS
Current Ratio (TTM)1.040.82
Quick Ratio (TTM)0.710.63
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM)-4.461.06
Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM)0.800.32
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)-3.723.18