BIIB vs. VRTX: Biogen vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do Biogen (BIIB) 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
Biogen (BIIB) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) are both classified in the Biotechnology sub-industry within the broader Biotechnology industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Biogen 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 | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 36.71 billion USD | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 17, 1991 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 65.44% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 4.62% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.96% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.58% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.08 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -64.35% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.05M | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.77 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.77 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for VRTX.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.87%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- BIIB
- 1.87%
- 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% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Biogen (BIIB) at 3.38% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.38%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- BIIB
- 3.38%
- 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)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 24.12% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.57% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
24.12%
- Max
- 83.12%
- BIIB
- 24.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- 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 | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 1.87% | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.94% | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.38% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.12% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 75.77% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 8.90% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Biogen (BIIB) reports EPS growth of -21.38%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.22% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.94% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.38% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -25.04% | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 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.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.95
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- BIIB
- 1.95
- 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 Biogen (BIIB) at 0.41 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.41
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- BIIB
- 0.41
- 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 | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.41 | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.97 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Biogen (BIIB) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- BIIB
- 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 Biogen (BIIB) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- BIIB
- 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 | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.21 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Biogen (BIIB) at 107.51 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for BIIB’s trailing earnings.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
107.51
- BIIB
- 107.51
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- 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)
On P/S ratio, both Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.57
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- BIIB
- 3.57
- Q1
- 3.01
- 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)
Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 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.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.94
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- BIIB
- 1.94
- 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 | BIIB | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 107.51 | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.57 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.94 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.20% | 1.69% |