MEDP vs. VRTX: Medpace vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do Medpace (MEDP) 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
Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MEDP is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while VRTX is classified in Biotechnology.
| Profile Item | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Medpace Holdings, 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 | 18.27 billion USD | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 11, 2016 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.29% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 35.26% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.49% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 44.16% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.10 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -42.87% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 258.39K | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.20 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.26 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Medpace (MEDP) at 117.88% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% also sits in the top quartile.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
117.88%
- MEDP
- 117.88%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- 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)
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 18.24% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 30.70% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.24%
- MEDP
- 18.24%
- Max
- 18.05%
- 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)
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 23.12% 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.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.12%
- Max
- 83.12%
- MEDP
- 23.12%
- 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 | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 117.88% | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 18.71% | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.24% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.12% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 72.24% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 19.97% 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: Medpace (MEDP) reports EPS growth of 20.98%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 19.97% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 20.12% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 20.98% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 28.04% | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 0.83 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.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.83
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MEDP
- 0.83
- 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 Medpace (MEDP) at 0.29 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.29
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- MEDP
- 0.29
- 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 | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.83 | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.29 | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -0.84 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Medpace (MEDP) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MEDP
- 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 Medpace (MEDP) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MEDP
- 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 | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Medpace (MEDP) at 36.26 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.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.26
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- MEDP
- 36.26
- 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 Medpace (MEDP) at 6.44 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.44
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- MEDP
- 6.44
- 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)
Both look rich against book: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 6.63 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Medpace (MEDP) at 31.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.
MEDP
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
31.23
- MEDP
- 31.23
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- 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 | MEDP | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 36.26 | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.44 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 31.23 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.72% | 1.69% |