VRTX vs. APLS
VRTX (Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated) and APLS (Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Biotechnology industry within the Healthcare sector. Over the past 5 years, VRTX returned 15.33%/yr vs -1.50%/yr for APLS. At a 0.26 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
VRTX vs. APLS - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VRTX achieves a -5.52% return, which is significantly lower than APLS's 63.34% return.
VRTX
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- -0.35%
- YTD
- -5.52%
- 6M
- -7.51%
- 1Y
- -4.06%
- 3Y*
- 8.67%
- 5Y*
- 15.33%
- 10Y*
- 16.38%
APLS
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.15%
- YTD
- 63.34%
- 6M
- 93.08%
- 1Y
- 118.01%
- 3Y*
- -22.49%
- 5Y*
- -1.50%
- 10Y*
- —
VRTX vs. APLS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VRTX Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | -5.52% | 12.58% | -1.03% | 40.90% | 31.50% | -7.08% | 7.94% | 32.13% | 10.58% | 1.14% |
APLS Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 63.34% | -21.28% | -46.69% | 15.76% | 9.37% | -17.34% | 86.81% | 132.15% | -39.22% | 54.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between VRTX and APLS is 0.25, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.25 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.21 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.23 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 10, 2017 | 0.26 |
Fundamentals
VRTX:
$16.87
APLS:
$1.41
VRTX:
25.40
APLS:
29.10
VRTX:
8.99
APLS:
3.77
VRTX:
$12.26B
APLS:
$1.03B
VRTX:
$10.57B
APLS:
$920.13M
VRTX:
$5.19B
APLS:
$176.85M
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
VRTX vs. APLS — Risk / Return Rank
VRTX
APLS
VRTX vs. APLS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) and Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS). 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.
| VRTX | APLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.11 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.60 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.58 | -0.57 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.17 | 3.37 | -3.54 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.37 | 7.45 | -7.82 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VRTX | APLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.12 | 0.99 | -1.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.53 | -0.02 | +0.55 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.25 | 0.16 | +0.09 |
Drawdowns
VRTX vs. APLS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VRTX drawdown since its inception was -91.77%, which is greater than APLS's maximum drawdown of -82.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VRTX and APLS.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| VRTX | APLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -91.77% | -82.47% | -9.30% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -23.56% | -43.53% | +19.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.07% | -82.47% | +53.40% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.07% | -82.47% | +53.40% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.60% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.11% | -56.03% | +38.92% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -37.70% | -37.13% | -0.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.14% | 19.63% | -8.49% |
Volatility
VRTX vs. APLS - Volatility Comparison
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (VRTX) has a higher volatility of 7.03% compared to Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (APLS) at 0.54%. This indicates that VRTX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than APLS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| VRTX | APLS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.03% | 0.54% | +6.49% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 21.69% | 91.44% | -69.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 33.88% | 147.98% | -114.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 28.90% | 91.01% | -62.11% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 32.82% | 83.60% | -50.78% |
Dividends
VRTX vs. APLS - Dividend Comparison
Neither VRTX nor APLS has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
VRTX vs. APLS - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and Apellis Pharmaceuticals, 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
VRTX vs. APLS - Profitability Comparison
VRTX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported a gross profit of 2.59B and revenue of 2.99B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 86.9%.
APLS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a gross profit of 151.46M and revenue of 192.01M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 78.9%.
VRTX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported an operating income of 1.14B and revenue of 2.99B, resulting in an operating margin of 38.1%.
APLS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported an operating income of 26.47M and revenue of 192.01M, resulting in an operating margin of 13.8%.
VRTX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated reported a net income of 1.03B and revenue of 2.99B, resulting in a net margin of 34.5%.
APLS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported a net income of 18.66M and revenue of 192.01M, resulting in a net margin of 9.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions
VRTX and APLS have a correlation of 0.25, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VRTX has higher volatility (7.03%) compared to APLS (0.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VRTX dropped -91.77% vs APLS's -82.47%.
APLS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.99 vs -0.12), 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.
Find the right allocation for VRTX and APLS
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer