Seek Returns

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.

Company profile comparison for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Profile ItemMEDPVRTX
NameMedpace Holdings, Inc.Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesBiotechnology
Market Capitalization18.27 billion USD138.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateAugust 11, 2016July 24, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MEDP
VRTX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
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

MEDP
VRTX
GSPC
Loading price history…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)44.16%29.73%
Beta (5Y)1.100.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)-42.87%-29.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)258.39K1.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
MEDP and VRTX 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 Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.201.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.261.68

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%
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
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.

Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
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
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.832.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.290.31
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.840.03

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%
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
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
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): 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 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
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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
Loading chart…
Medpace (MEDP) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricMEDPVRTX
P/E Ratio (TTM)36.2635.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.4410.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)31.236.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.72%1.69%