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EXEL vs. ILMN: Exelixis vs. Illumina Stock Comparison

How do Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN) 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

Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but EXEL is classified in Biotechnology while ILMN is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

Company profile comparison for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
Profile ItemEXELILMN
NameExelixis Inc.Illumina Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization16.98 billion USD32.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateApril 17, 2000July 28, 2000
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EXEL
ILMN
GSPC
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
Total Return (1Y)74.98%79.70%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)50.33%28.16%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.10%-10.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EXEL
ILMN
GSPC
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Illumina (ILMN) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Exelixis (EXEL) is defensive at 0.41 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.17%48.47%
Beta (5Y)0.411.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-35.41%-82.95%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.33M2.77M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EXEL and ILMN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)2.071.56
Sortino Ratio (1Y)3.232.25

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 44.32% and Illumina (ILMN) at 32.39% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

44.32%

Max
109.18%
EXEL
44.32%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.39%

Max
109.18%
ILMN
32.39%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 35.45% and Illumina (ILMN) at 19.72% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.45%

EXEL
35.45%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.72%

ILMN
19.72%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 40.75% and Illumina (ILMN) at 20.02% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

40.75%

Max
83.12%
EXEL
40.75%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.02%

Max
83.12%
ILMN
20.02%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
ROE (TTM)44.32%32.39%
ROA (TTM)23.52%8.32%
Net Margin (TTM)35.45%19.72%
Operating Margin (TTM)40.75%20.02%
Gross Margin (TTM)96.26%67.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Exelixis (EXEL) at 6.98% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Illumina (ILMN) at -0.66% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Exelixis (EXEL) reports EPS growth of 57.95%, ranked against its industry; Illumina (ILMN) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.98%-0.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)12.93%-1.78%
EPS Growth (YoY)57.95%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)70.59%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 3.21 and Illumina (ILMN) at 2.63 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.21

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
EXEL
3.21
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
ILMN
2.63
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Exelixis (EXEL) at 0.09 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Illumina (ILMN) at 0.74 uses more debt funding than most peers.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.09

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
EXEL
0.09
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.74

Max
1.42
ILMN
0.74
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.212.63
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.090.74
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.710.85

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Exelixis (EXEL) nor Illumina (ILMN) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

EXEL
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ILMN
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Exelixis (EXEL) nor Illumina (ILMN) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

EXEL
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ILMN
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 20.83 and Illumina (ILMN) at 36.68 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

20.83

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
EXEL
20.83
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.68

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
ILMN
36.68
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Exelixis (EXEL) at 6.80 and Illumina (ILMN) at 7.10 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.80

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
EXEL
6.80
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.10

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
ILMN
7.10
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Exelixis (EXEL) at 9.28 and Illumina (ILMN) at 10.30 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

EXEL

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.28

Max
13.53
EXEL
9.28
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

ILMN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.30

Max
13.53
ILMN
10.30
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Exelixis (EXEL) vs. Illumina (ILMN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Exelixis (EXEL) and Illumina (ILMN)
MetricEXELILMN
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.8336.68
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.807.10
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.2810.30
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)4.47%2.67%