AVTR vs. VRTX: Avantor vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do Avantor (AVTR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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
Avantor (AVTR) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but AVTR is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while VRTX is classified in Biotechnology.
| Profile Item | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Avantor, Inc. | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 10.48 billion USD | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 17, 2019 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 36.41% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -5.02% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -16.62% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.39% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.94 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -82.42% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 8.56M | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.74 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.17 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Avantor (AVTR) at 5.91% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VRTX.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.91%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- AVTR
- 5.91%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.80%
- Max
- 109.18%
- VRTX
- 20.80%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 30.70% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Avantor (AVTR) at 5.08% also retains a top-quartile share.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.08%
- Max
- 18.05%
- AVTR
- 5.08%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
30.70%
- VRTX
- 30.70%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.57% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Avantor (AVTR) at 8.19%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
8.19%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- AVTR
- 8.19%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.57%
- Max
- 83.12%
- VRTX
- 35.57%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 5.91% | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.83% | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.08% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 8.19% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 31.59% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 8.90% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Avantor (AVTR) at -3.41% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Avantor (AVTR) reports EPS growth of -175.00%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.41% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -4.46% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -175.00% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 1.89 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 2.34 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.89
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- AVTR
- 1.89
- Min
- 0.10
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.34
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- VRTX
- 2.34
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 0.63 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.63
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- AVTR
- 0.63
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.31
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- VRTX
- 0.31
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.89 | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.63 | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.40 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Avantor (AVTR) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- AVTR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- VRTX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Avantor (AVTR) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- AVTR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- VRTX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Avantor (AVTR) at 30.94 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.21 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
30.94
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- AVTR
- 30.94
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.21
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- VRTX
- 35.21
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Avantor (AVTR) at 1.58 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 prices around its industry’s middle — AVTR costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.58
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- AVTR
- 1.58
- Min
- 0.01
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.71
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- VRTX
- 10.71
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Avantor (AVTR) at 1.80 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 6.63 carries an above-peer premium to book — VRTX is pricier on assets.
AVTR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.80
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- AVTR
- 1.80
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.63
- Max
- 13.53
- VRTX
- 6.63
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AVTR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 30.94 | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.58 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.80 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.21% | 1.69% |