RPRX vs. UTHR: Royalty Pharma vs. United Therapeutics Stock Comparison
How do Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and United Therapeutics (UTHR) 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
Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and United Therapeutics (UTHR) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but RPRX is classified in Pharmaceuticals while UTHR is classified in Biotechnology.
United Therapeutics (UTHR) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 17, 1999, whereas Royalty Pharma (RPRX) listed on June 16, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Royalty Pharma plc Class A Ordinary Shares | United Therapeutics Corporation |
| 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 | 38.70 billion USD | 23.94 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 16, 2020 | June 17, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 81.08% | 28.77% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 39.21% | 37.63% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.22% | 23.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.05% | 35.00% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.36 | 0.49 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -41.98% | -33.00% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.10M | 694.55K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 3.48 | 0.70 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 5.72 | 1.29 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 12.09% and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 19.13% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
12.09%
- Max
- 109.18%
- RPRX
- 12.09%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
19.13%
- Max
- 109.18%
- UTHR
- 19.13%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 25.70% and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 38.61% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
25.70%
- RPRX
- 25.70%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
38.61%
- UTHR
- 38.61%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 81.32% and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 28.99% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
81.32%
- Max
- 83.12%
- RPRX
- 81.32%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.99%
- Max
- 83.12%
- UTHR
- 28.99%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.09% | 19.13% |
| ROA (TTM) | 5.43% | 10.91% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.70% | 38.61% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 81.32% | 28.99% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 99.79% | 86.34% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 5.06% and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 10.61% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 23.09% and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 13.07% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.06% | 10.61% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 2.06% | 18.02% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 23.09% | 13.07% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 161.10% | 22.92% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 4.61 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 1.29 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RPRX.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.29
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- RPRX
- 1.29
- Min
- 0.10
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.61
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- UTHR
- 4.61
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Royalty Pharma (RPRX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88 against its industry range, while United Therapeutics (UTHR) reports no figure this period.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.88
- Max
- 1.42
- RPRX
- 0.88
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
- UTHR
- --
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.29 | 4.61 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.88 | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 4.76 | -1.53 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
United Therapeutics (UTHR) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Royalty Pharma (RPRX) reports a yield of 1.37%, ranking against industry peers normally.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.37%
- RPRX
- 1.37%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- UTHR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
United Therapeutics (UTHR) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Royalty Pharma (RPRX) reports a payout of 60.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
60.46%
- RPRX
- 60.46%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- UTHR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.37% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.46% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 21.22 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 43.99 sits in the richer quartile — RPRX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
43.99
- Max
- 85.34
- RPRX
- 43.99
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.22
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- UTHR
- 21.22
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 14.79 and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 7.51 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
14.79
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- RPRX
- 14.79
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.51
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- UTHR
- 7.51
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 4.39 and United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 3.80 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
RPRX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.39
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- RPRX
- 4.39
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.80
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- UTHR
- 3.80
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RPRX | UTHR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 43.99 | 21.22 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 14.79 | 7.51 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.39 | 3.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -1.16% | 1.90% |