ASND vs. MRNA: Ascendis Pharma vs. Moderna Stock Comparison
How do Ascendis Pharma (ASND) and Moderna (MRNA) 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
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) and Moderna (MRNA) are both classified in the Biotechnology sub-industry within the broader Biotechnology industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ascendis Pharma A/S | Moderna Inc. |
| Country/Region | Denmark | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 16.90 billion USD | 101.48 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 28, 2015 | December 7, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 29.46% | 1,031.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.62% | 58.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.03% | 3.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Moderna (MRNA) is heavily traded at around 21.61M shares per day, whereas Ascendis Pharma (ASND) sees a more moderate 698.39K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 38.62% | 194.88% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.38 | 1.08 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.93% | -93.93% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 698.39K | 21.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | 5.27 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.99 | 20.44 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative ROE of -39.00%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Ascendis Pharma (ASND) reports 118.78%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-39.00%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- MRNA
- -39.00%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Ascendis Pharma (ASND) reports 70.85%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-141.43%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
- MRNA
- -141.43%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative operating margin of -557.93%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Ascendis Pharma (ASND) reports 64.98%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-557.93%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
- MRNA
- -557.93%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 118.78% | -39.00% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.58% | -13.26% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 70.85% | -141.43% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 64.98% | -557.93% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 91.30% | -66.02% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 98.03% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Neither Ascendis Pharma (ASND) nor Moderna (MRNA) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 98.03% | -39.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 141.43% | -53.30% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 2.99 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MRNA.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.30
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MRNA
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 0.31 and Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.19
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- MRNA
- 0.19
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.99 | 2.30 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.31 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.37 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Ascendis Pharma (ASND) nor Moderna (MRNA) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Ascendis Pharma (ASND) nor Moderna (MRNA) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Ascendis Pharma (ASND) trades at 19.68 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Moderna (MRNA) has no P/E ratio this period.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
- MRNA
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 16.14 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 sits in the pricier quartile — MRNA costs more per dollar of sales.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.55
- Max
- 58.18
- MRNA
- 45.55
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 10.45 and Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.58
- Max
- 13.53
- MRNA
- 11.58
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ASND | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.68 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 16.14 | 45.55 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.45 | 11.58 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.08% | 0.29% |