GILEAD SCIENCES, INC. vs VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INC / MA, two Drug Manufacturers stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
The operating margins are twins, 37.2% at Gilead and 38.1% at Vertex, two franchise pharmas keeping identical shares of very different revenue: HIV therapy at global scale against cystic fibrosis at monopoly depth. The prices unstitch the resemblance, 17.3 times earnings for Gilead against 29.2 for Vertex, twelve turns for the difference in growth stories. Gilead compensates with cash, a 6.4% free-cash yield and 2.5% dividend on a full turn of debt; Vertex retains everything, debt-free with a 3 current ratio. Returns on equity favor Gilead, 39.2% against 22.4%, leverage assisting. Same margin discipline, opposite capital lives: one franchise pays out its maturity, the other banks its youth.
Comparison updated 2026-07-10.
| Metric | GILD | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $127.25 | $491.10 |
| Market cap | $159.6B | $125.9B |
| Sector | Drug Manufacturers | Drug Manufacturers |
| Stage | Mature | Mature |
| Implied growth (priced in) | -0.5% | +19.8% |
| P/E | 17.3 | 29.1 |
| P/B | 6.79 | 6.50 |
| P/S | 5.37 | 10.30 |
| EV/EBITDA | 17.1 | 24.6 |
| Revenue growth | +3.5% | +10.1% |
| Operating margin | 37.2% | 38.1% |
| Net margin | 31.0% | 35.5% |
| Return on equity | 39.2% | 22.4% |
| Return on assets | 16.4% | 16.4% |
| Return on invested capital | 17.3% | 19.9% |
| FCF yield | 6.4% | 3.0% |
| Dividend yield | 2.5% | — |
| Debt / equity | 1.00 | 0.00 |
| Current ratio | 1.97 | 3.02 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 7.23 | 7.73 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 6 / 9 | 6 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.