ELAN vs. VRTX: Elanco Animal Health vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) 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
Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ELAN is classified in Pharmaceuticals while VRTX is classified in Biotechnology.
| Profile Item | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Elanco Animal Health Incorporated | 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 | Pharmaceuticals | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 12.86 billion USD | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | September 20, 2018 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 24.03% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 37.47% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.24% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) has an aggressive beta of 1.65, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) is defensive at 0.29 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 43.57% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.65 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -75.59% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.65M | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.45 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.66 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) earns 20.80% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) has no ROE this period.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- ELAN
- --
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)
Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) reports a negative net margin of -2.86%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reports 30.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-2.86%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- ELAN
- -2.86%
- 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 Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) at 6.64%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.64%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- ELAN
- 6.64%
- 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 | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | -- | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -2.86% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 6.64% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 56.18% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) at 6.22% 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: Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) reports EPS growth of -169.12%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.22% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.25% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -169.12% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) shows current ratio of 2.34 against its industry benchmark, while Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) has no reading this period.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
- ELAN
- --
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 Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) at 0.64 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.64
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- ELAN
- 0.64
- 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 | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.64 | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.49 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ELAN
- 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 Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ELAN
- 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 | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trades at 35.21 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) has no P/E ratio this period.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
- ELAN
- --
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)
Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) at 2.50 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 prices around its industry’s middle — ELAN costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.50
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- ELAN
- 2.50
- 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)
Elanco Animal Health (ELAN) at 1.95 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.
ELAN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.95
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- ELAN
- 1.95
- 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 | ELAN | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.50 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | 1.69% |