Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) vs Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (RYTM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND) has outperformed Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (RYTM) over the past year, gaining 59.9% versus a loss of 10.6%. Over five years, RYTM leads with a +692.6% price change compared with +263.0% for LGND. Rhythm Pharmaceuticals is the larger company by market cap ($6.31 billion vs $6.04 billion), about 1.0 times the size, while Ligand Pharmaceuticals is growing revenue faster (+60.4% vs +45.8%).
Ligand Pharmaceuticals converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 46.4% versus -103.6%.
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 | LGND | RYTM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $302.95 | $91.67 |
| Market cap | $6.04B | $6.31B |
| 1-day change | +2.69% | +2.26% |
| YTD return | +56.03% | -16.26% |
| 1-year return | +59.90% | -10.57% |
| 5-year return | +263.03% | +692.57% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 31.92 | — |
| Forward P/E | 25.35 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $9.49 | $-3.12 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $268.09M | $189.76M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +60.40% | +45.83% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $124.45M | $-196.54M |
| Gross margin | — | 89.73% |
| Operating margin | 15.29% | -101.19% |
| Net margin | 46.42% | -103.57% |
| 52-week high | $326.63 | $122.20 |
| 52-week low | $175.89 | $74.50 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -7.25% | -24.98% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.63% | +51.18% |
| Average volume | 258.59K | 655.66K |
| Shares outstanding | 19.94M | 68.85M |
| Employees | 47 | 414 |
| 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 RYTM by 70.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals is more profitable, keeping 46.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -103.6 cents for Rhythm Pharmaceuticals.
- Ligand Pharmaceuticals grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+60.40% vs +45.83%).
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
About Rhythm Pharmaceuticals
RYTM stock →Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the rare neuroendocrine diseases in the United States and internationally. The company's lead product candidate is IMCIVREE (setmelanotide), a rare melanocortin-4 receptor for the treatment of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1, leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency obesity, Bardet-Biedl and Alström syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and hypothalamic obesity.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 414 employees
LGND vs RYTM FAQ
Which is bigger, Ligand Pharmaceuticals or Rhythm Pharmaceuticals?
Rhythm Pharmaceuticals (RYTM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.31B compared with $6.04B for Ligand Pharmaceuticals (LGND).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, LGND or RYTM?
LGND returned +59.90% over the past 12 months, compared with -10.57% for RYTM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Rhythm Pharmaceuticals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.