UTHR vs. VRTX: United Therapeutics vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do United Therapeutics (UTHR) 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
United Therapeutics (UTHR) 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.
| Profile Item | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | United Therapeutics Corporation | 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 | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 23.94 billion USD | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 17, 1999 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 28.77% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 37.63% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 23.78% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 35.00% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.49 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.00% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 694.55K | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.70 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.29 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 19.13% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 20.80% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
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 United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 38.61% 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.
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%
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 United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 28.99% 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.
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%
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 | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 19.13% | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.91% | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 38.61% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 28.99% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 86.34% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 10.61% 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: United Therapeutics (UTHR) reports EPS growth of 13.07%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.61% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.02% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 13.07% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 22.92% | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 4.61 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.
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
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)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31 against its industry range, while United Therapeutics (UTHR) reports no figure this period.
UTHR
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
- UTHR
- --
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 | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 4.61 | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.53 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither United Therapeutics (UTHR) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
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 United Therapeutics (UTHR) nor Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
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%
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 | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 21.22 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.
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
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 United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 7.51 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
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)
United Therapeutics (UTHR) at 3.80 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 6.63 carries an above-peer premium to book — VRTX is pricier on assets.
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
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 | UTHR | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.22 | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.51 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.80 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.90% | 1.69% |