Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) vs Pacira BioSciences (PCRX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Pacira BioSciences (PCRX) has outperformed Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) over the past year, gaining 55.4% versus a loss of 27.9%. Over five years, PCRX leads with a -31.6% price change compared with -84.3% for NKTR. Pacira BioSciences is the larger company by market cap ($1.45 billion vs $1.39 billion), about 1.0 times the size.
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 | NKTR | PCRX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $40.80 | $36.39 |
| Market cap | $1.39B | $1.45B |
| 1-day change | +1.34% | +44.40% |
| YTD return | -3.50% | +40.61% |
| 1-year return | -27.86% | +55.45% |
| 5-year return | -84.29% | -31.60% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | — | 103.97 |
| Forward P/E | — | 10.52 |
| EPS (TTM) | $-18.96 | $0.35 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $726.41M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +3.63% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $7.03M |
| Gross margin | — | 79.39% |
| Operating margin | — | 2.64% |
| Net margin | — | 0.97% |
| 52-week high | $109.00 | $36.46 |
| 52-week low | $33.40 | $18.80 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -62.57% | -0.19% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +246.57% | -17.26% |
| Average volume | 1.07M | 1.03M |
| Shares outstanding | 34.14M | 39.86M |
| Employees | 63 | 825 |
| 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
- PCRX has outperformed NKTR by 83.3 percentage points over the past year.
About Nektar Therapeutics
NKTR stock →Nektar Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on discovering and developing medicines in the field of immunotherapy in the United States and internationally. It develops rezpegaldesleukin, which is in Phase 2b to treat underlying immune system imbalance in people with autoimmune disorders and inflammatory diseases; NKTR-0165 to treat ulcerative colitis, vitiligo, and multiple sclerosis; NKTR-0166 to treat autoimmune disease; NKTR-422 to treat fibrotic diseases; and NKTR-255 to treat solid tumors and large b-cell lymphoma.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 63 employees
About Pacira BioSciences
PCRX stock →Pacira BioSciences, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of non-opioid pain management and regenerative health solutions to healthcare practitioners in the United States.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 825 employees
NKTR vs PCRX FAQ
Which is bigger, Nektar Therapeutics or Pacira BioSciences?
Pacira BioSciences (PCRX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.45B compared with $1.39B for Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NKTR or PCRX?
PCRX returned +55.45% over the past 12 months, compared with -27.86% for NKTR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Nektar Therapeutics and Pacira BioSciences in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.