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NTRA vs. VRTX: Natera vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison

How do Natera (NTRA) 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

Natera (NTRA) 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.

Company profile comparison for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Profile ItemNTRAVRTX
NameNatera, Inc.Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyBiotechnology
Market Capitalization45.05 billion USD138.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJuly 1, 2015July 24, 1991
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NTRA
VRTX
GSPC
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Natera (NTRA) 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

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Trailing total returns for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
Total Return (1Y)61.03%34.89%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)92.02%14.44%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)23.20%23.65%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NTRA
VRTX
GSPC
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Natera (NTRA) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Natera (NTRA) has an aggressive beta of 1.58, 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.

Risk profile metrics for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)52.30%29.73%
Beta (5Y)1.580.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.72%-29.07%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.68M1.25M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NTRA 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 Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.091.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.631.68

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Natera (NTRA) reports a negative ROE of -10.55%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reports 20.80%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-10.55%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
NTRA
-10.55%
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%
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Natera (NTRA) reports a negative net margin of -5.66%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reports 30.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-5.66%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
NTRA
-5.66%
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%
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Natera (NTRA) reports a negative operating margin of -7.64%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reports 35.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-7.64%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
NTRA
-7.64%
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%
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
ROE (TTM)-10.55%20.80%
ROA (TTM)-6.79%10.62%
Net Margin (TTM)-5.66%30.70%
Operating Margin (TTM)-7.64%35.57%
Gross Margin (TTM)65.14%54.81%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Natera (NTRA) at 35.90% 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.

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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Neither Natera (NTRA) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reports a EPS growth value for this period, so a direct comparison isn't possible.

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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
Revenue Growth (YoY)35.90%8.90%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)41.14%10.35%
EPS Growth (YoY)----
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--6.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Natera (NTRA) at 2.81 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 2.34 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for VRTX.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.81

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
NTRA
2.81
Q1
2.47
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
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Natera (NTRA) at 0.13 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 0.31 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.13

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
NTRA
0.13
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
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Natera (NTRA) 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 Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.812.34
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.130.31
Net Debt / EBITDA--0.03

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Natera (NTRA) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

NTRA
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%
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Natera (NTRA) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

NTRA
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%
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
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 Natera (NTRA) has no P/E ratio this period.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
NTRA
--

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
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Natera (NTRA) vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX): NTRA does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; VRTX is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Natera (NTRA) at 15.49 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

15.49

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
NTRA
15.49
Median
7.30
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…
Natera (NTRA) 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 Natera (NTRA) at 23.99 prices even higher, above its industry range.

NTRA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.99

NTRA
23.99
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…
Natera (NTRA) 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 Natera (NTRA) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
MetricNTRAVRTX
P/E Ratio (TTM)--35.21
P/S Ratio (TTM)15.4910.71
P/B Ratio (MRQ)23.996.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.19%1.69%