Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) vs Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) has outperformed Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS) over the past year, gaining 37.4% versus a loss of 35.6%. Over five years, AXSM leads with a +319.8% price change compared with +29.0% for IONS. Axsome Therapeutics is the larger company by market cap ($8.82 billion vs $7.52 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
Axsome Therapeutics converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of -28.7% versus -40.4%.
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 | AXSM | IONS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $168.35 | $45.28 |
| Market cap | $8.82B | $7.52B |
| 1-day change | -1.02% | +4.57% |
| YTD return | -7.82% | -42.76% |
| 1-year return | +37.41% | -35.56% |
| 5-year return | +319.83% | +29.00% |
| Forward P/E | 35.80 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $-3.70 | $-3.48 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $638.50M | $943.71M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +65.55% | +33.83% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-183.17M | $-381.39M |
| Gross margin | 92.56% | 98.31% |
| Operating margin | -26.12% | -40.45% |
| Net margin | -28.69% | -40.41% |
| 52-week high | $260.19 | $86.74 |
| 52-week low | $119.20 | $42.63 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -35.30% | -47.80% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +69.07% | +84.72% |
| Average volume | 712.30K | 3.51M |
| Shares outstanding | 52.38M | 166.18M |
| Employees | 1,346 | 1,480 |
| 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
- AXSM has outperformed IONS by 73.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Axsome Therapeutics is more profitable, keeping -28.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -40.4 cents for Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
- Axsome Therapeutics grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+65.55% vs +33.83%).
About Axsome Therapeutics
AXSM stock →Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, develops and delivers novel therapies for the management of central nervous system (CNS) disorders in the United States. The company's commercial product portfolio includes Auvelity (dextromethorphan-bupropion), a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, sigma-1 receptor agonist, aminoketone, and CYP2D6 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults; Sunosi (solriamfetol), a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, trace amine-associated receptor 1 agonist, and 5-HT1A agonist indicated for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea; and Symbravo (MoSEIC meloxicam rizatriptan), or AXS-07, a rapidly absorbed, multi-mechanistic, selective COX-2 inhibitor, and 5-HT1B/1D agonist indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 1,346 employees
About Ionis Pharmaceuticals
IONS stock →Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, provides RNA-targeted medicines in the United States. The company offers TRYNGOLZA reduces triglyceride levels in adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) and acute pancreatitis; DAWNZERA for prophylaxis to prevent attacks of hereditary angioedema in adults; WAINUA for the treatment of the polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-medicated amyloidosis (ATTRv-PN) in adults; and SPINRAZA for pediatric and adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 1,480 employees
AXSM vs IONS FAQ
Which is bigger, Axsome Therapeutics or Ionis Pharmaceuticals?
Axsome Therapeutics (AXSM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.82B compared with $7.52B for Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AXSM or IONS?
AXSM returned +37.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -35.56% for IONS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Axsome Therapeutics and Ionis Pharmaceuticals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.