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RPRX vs. WST: Royalty Pharma vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison

How do Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) 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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but RPRX is classified in Pharmaceuticals while WST is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Royalty Pharma (RPRX) listed on June 16, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
Profile ItemRPRXWST
NameRoyalty Pharma plc Class A Ordinary SharesWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsLife Sciences Tools & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsLife Sciences Tools & Services
Market Capitalization38.70 billion USD27.85 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 16, 2020March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RPRX
WST
GSPC
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST), 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 Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
Total Return (1Y)81.08%51.68%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)39.21%7.13%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.22%0.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RPRX
WST
GSPC
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST), 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 Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.05%31.45%
Beta (5Y)0.361.13
Max Drawdown (5Y)-41.98%-59.29%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.10M603.86K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RPRX and WST 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 Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)3.481.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)5.722.35

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 12.09% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 21.23% 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.23%

Max
109.18%
WST
21.23%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 25.70% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 18.81% 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.81%

WST
18.81%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 81.32% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 25.37% 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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.37%

Max
83.12%
WST
25.37%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
ROE (TTM)12.09%21.23%
ROA (TTM)5.43%11.89%
Net Margin (TTM)25.70%18.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)81.32%25.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)99.79%37.59%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 5.06% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 6.25% 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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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 23.09% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 1.49% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.06%6.25%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)2.06%2.12%
EPS Growth (YoY)23.09%1.49%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)161.10%-4.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 2.82 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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.82

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
WST
2.82
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 0.88 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.11

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
WST
0.11
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.292.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.880.11
Net Debt / EBITDA4.76-0.16

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 1.37% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.22% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.22%

WST
0.22%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 60.46% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.88% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

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%

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.88%

WST
9.88%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.37%0.22%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)60.46%9.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 43.99 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.87 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

44.87

Max
85.34
WST
44.87
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): 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 Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 14.79 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 8.20 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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.20

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
WST
8.20
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 4.39 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — WST is pricier on assets.

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

WST

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.40

Max
13.53
WST
9.40
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
Loading chart…
Royalty Pharma (RPRX) vs. West Pharmaceutical Services (WST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Royalty Pharma (RPRX) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST)
MetricRPRXWST
P/E Ratio (TTM)43.9944.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)14.798.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.399.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-1.16%1.24%