With VRTX Down 21% in a Day, Is It Time to Compare It Against UTHR?
United Therapeutics (UTHR) offers superior revenue growth across key periods, better profitability, and relatively lower valuation vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), suggesting you may be better off investing in UTHR
- UTHR’s quarterly revenue growth was 11.7%, vs. VRTX’s 3.0%.
- In addition, its Last 12 Months revenue growth came in at 17.6%, ahead of VRTX’s 9.0%.
- UTHR leads on profitability over both periods – LTM margin of 50.1% and 3-year average of 50.0%.
VRTX develops and commercializes therapies for cystic fibrosis, marketing key treatments for patients with F508del mutation; pipeline includes VX-864 for AAT deficiency in Phase 2 trials. UTHR develops and commercializes therapies for chronic, life-threatening diseases, focusing on pulmonary arterial hypertension and related conditions to improve patient exercise capacity and symptoms.
Valuation & Performance Overview
| VRTX | UTHR | Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valuation | |||
| P/EBIT Ratio | 22.9 | 8.9 | UTHR |
| Revenue Growth | |||
| Last Quarter | 3.0% | 11.7% | UTHR |
| Last 12 Months | 9.0% | 17.6% | UTHR |
| Last 3 Year Average | 11.8% | 19.9% | UTHR |
| Operating Margins | |||
| Last 12 Months | 37.9% | 50.1% | UTHR |
| Last 3 Year Average | 43.2% | 50.0% | UTHR |
| Momentum | |||
| Last 3 Year Return | 30.2% | 37.5% | UTHR |
Note: For “Last 3 Year Return” metric, preferred stock is one with higher returns unless the returns are too high (>300%) which creates risk of sell off.
See more revenue details: VRTX Revenue Comparison | UTHR Revenue Comparison
See more margin details: VRTX Operating Income Comparison | UTHR Operating Income Comparison
But do these numbers tell the full story? Read Buy or Sell UTHR Stock to see if United Therapeutics’s edge holds up under the hood or if Vertex Pharmaceuticals still has cards to play (see Buy or Sell VRTX Stock).
That is one way to look at stocks. Trefis High Quality Portfolio evaluates much more, and is designed to reduce stock-specific risk while giving upside exposure
Historical Market Performance
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | Avg | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||||
| VRTX Return | 8% | -7% | 32% | 41% | -1% | 17% | 111% | ||
| UTHR Return | 72% | 42% | 29% | -21% | 60% | -17% | 234% | <=== | |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 8% | 93% | ||
| Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||||
| VRTX Win Rate | 67% | 42% | 67% | 58% | 50% | 86% | 62% | ||
| UTHR Win Rate | 58% | 67% | 42% | 42% | 58% | 14% | 47% | ||
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 57% | 62% | <=== | |
| Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||||
| VRTX Max Drawdown | -9% | -25% | 0% | -2% | -3% | -0% | -7% | <=== | |
| UTHR Max Drawdown | -10% | 0% | -23% | -26% | -4% | -22% | -14% | ||
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -31% | -1% | -25% | -1% | -2% | -15% | -12% | ||
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] 2025 data is for the year till date (YTD)
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
No matter how good the numbers, stock investment is never a smooth ride. There is a risk you must factor in. Read UTHR Dip Buyer Analyses and VRTX Dip Buyer Analyses to see how these stocks have fallen and recovered in the past.