IONS vs. RKLB
IONS (Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) and RKLB (Rocket Lab USA, Inc.) are both stocks. IONS operates in Biotechnology (Healthcare), while RKLB operates in Aerospace & Defense (Industrials). Over the past 3 years, IONS returned 10.14%/yr vs 129.83%/yr for RKLB. At a 0.23 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IONS vs. RKLB - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IONS achieves a -28.26% return, which is significantly lower than RKLB's 9.99% return.
IONS
- 1D
- -2.58%
- 1M
- -22.55%
- 6M
- -30.50%
- YTD
- -28.26%
- 1Y
- 35.99%
- 3Y*
- 10.14%
- 5Y*
- 9.99%
- 10Y*
- 7.60%
RKLB
- 1D
- -5.32%
- 1M
- -25.06%
- 6M
- -12.71%
- YTD
- 9.99%
- 1Y
- 96.59%
- 3Y*
- 129.83%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IONS vs. RKLB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IONS Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | -28.26% | 126.29% | -30.90% | 33.94% | 24.12% | -22.03% |
RKLB Rocket Lab USA, Inc. | 9.99% | 173.89% | 360.58% | 46.68% | -69.30% | 8.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between IONS and RKLB is 0.14, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.15 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 24, 2021 | 0.23 |
Fundamentals
IONS:
$9.38B
RKLB:
$44.42B
IONS:
-$2.01
RKLB:
-$0.32
IONS:
8.72
RKLB:
64.23
IONS:
19.04
RKLB:
20.52
IONS:
$1.06B
RKLB:
$679.58M
IONS:
$1.04B
RKLB:
$248.43M
IONS:
$4.54B
RKLB:
-$177.36M
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Return for Risk
IONS vs. RKLB — Risk / Return Rank
IONS
RKLB
IONS vs. RKLB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IONS) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IONS | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.34 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.22 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.05 | 1.99 | -0.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.02 | 4.51 | -0.49 |
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Drawdowns
IONS vs. RKLB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IONS drawdown since its inception was -91.42%, which is greater than RKLB's maximum drawdown of -82.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IONS and RKLB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IONS | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -91.42% | -82.96% | -8.46% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -34.39% | -48.92% | +14.53% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -52.36% | -55.49% | +3.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -52.36% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -70.39% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -34.39% | -48.92% | +14.53% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -52.29% | -51.08% | -1.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 8.97% | 21.51% | -12.54% |
Volatility
IONS vs. RKLB - Volatility Comparison
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IONS) and Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) have volatilities of 30.47% and 31.14%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IONS | RKLB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 30.47% | 31.14% | -0.67% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 35.54% | 72.33% | -36.79% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 52.78% | 95.04% | -42.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 43.82% | 81.97% | -38.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 46.77% | 81.97% | -35.20% |
Dividends
IONS vs. RKLB - Dividend Comparison
Neither IONS nor RKLB has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
IONS vs. RKLB - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Rocket Lab USA, Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
IONS vs. RKLB - Profitability Comparison
IONS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a gross profit of 243.11M and revenue of 246.09M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 98.8%.
RKLB - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported a gross profit of 76.49M and revenue of 200.35M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 38.2%.
IONS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported an operating income of -117.42M and revenue of 246.09M, resulting in an operating margin of -47.7%.
RKLB - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported an operating income of -55.97M and revenue of 200.35M, resulting in an operating margin of -27.9%.
IONS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a net income of -92.53M and revenue of 246.09M, resulting in a net margin of -37.6%.
RKLB - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jul 2026, Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported a net income of -45.02M and revenue of 200.35M, resulting in a net margin of -22.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
IONS and RKLB have a correlation of 0.14, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
RKLB has higher volatility (31.14%) compared to IONS (30.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IONS dropped -91.42% vs RKLB's -82.96%.
RKLB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.02 vs 0.69), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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