Alkermes (ALKS) vs Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) has outperformed Alkermes (ALKS) over the past year, gaining 60.1% versus a gain of 33.9%. Over five years, LGND leads with a +260.9% price change compared with +30.9% for ALKS. Alkermes is the larger company by market cap ($6.95 billion vs $5.85 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while Ligand Pharmaceuticals is growing revenue faster (+60.4% vs -5.2%).
On valuation, Alkermes trades at a lower forward P/E (22.9x vs 24.5x for Ligand Pharmaceuticals). Ligand Pharmaceuticals converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 46.4% versus 16.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ALKS | LGND |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $41.45 | $293.26 |
| Market cap | $6.95B | $5.85B |
| 1-day change | -0.49% | -1.24% |
| YTD return | +48.12% | +55.11% |
| 1-year return | +33.91% | +60.11% |
| 5-year return | +30.87% | +260.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 109.07 | 30.90 |
| Forward P/E | 22.92 | 24.54 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.38 | $9.49 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.48B | $268.09M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -5.25% | +60.40% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $241.66M | $124.45M |
| Gross margin | 86.69% | — |
| Operating margin | 17.21% | 15.29% |
| Net margin | 16.37% | 46.42% |
| 52-week high | $55.67 | $326.63 |
| 52-week low | $27.00 | $175.89 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.55% | -10.22% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +36.47% | +17.39% |
| Average volume | 1.83M | 261.98K |
| Shares outstanding | 167.76M | 19.94M |
| Employees | 2,050 | 47 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- LGND has outperformed ALKS by 26.2 percentage points over the past year.
- Alkermes trades at a higher earnings multiple (109.1x vs 30.9x trailing P/E).
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals is more profitable, keeping 46.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 16.4 cents for Alkermes.
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+60.40% vs -5.25%).
About Alkermes
ALKS stock →Alkermes plc, a biopharmaceutical company, engages in the research, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products to address unmet medical needs of patients in therapeutic areas in the United States, Ireland, and internationally. The company has a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of opioid dependence, alcohol dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical product candidates in development for neurological disorders.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 2,050 employees
About Ligand Pharmaceuticals
LGND stock →Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and licenses biopharmaceutical assets worldwide. It offers Pradefovir, Posaconazole, Voriconazole, CAPVAXIVE, NOXAFIL, MenFive, and ZELSUVMI for infectious disease; EVOMELA and KYPROLIS for multiple myeloma; FILSPARI for the treatment of immunoglobulin a nephropathy; PNEUMOSIL, a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to help fight against pneumococcal pneumonia in children; and QARZIBA to treat neuroblastoma.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 47 employees
ALKS vs LGND FAQ
Which is bigger, Alkermes or Ligand Pharmaceuticals?
Alkermes (ALKS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.95B compared with $5.85B for Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ALKS or LGND?
LGND returned +60.11% over the past 12 months, compared with +33.91% for ALKS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ALKS or LGND?
LGND has the lower trailing P/E at 30.9, versus 109.1 for ALKS. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Alkermes and Ligand Pharmaceuticals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.