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Side-by-side financial comparison of NLIGHT, INC. (LASR) and LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC (LGND). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

NLIGHT, INC. is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($80.2M vs $59.7M, roughly 1.3× LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC). LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC runs the higher net margin — 75.1% vs 0.8%, a 74.3% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, NLIGHT, INC. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (55.2% vs 39.4%). Over the past eight quarters, LIGAND PHARMACEUTICALS INC's revenue compounded faster (38.8% CAGR vs 26.0%).

nLight Inc. is a global developer and manufacturer of high-performance semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and related optical components. Its products serve key segments including industrial precision manufacturing, aerospace and defense, medical equipment, and advanced research, with customers across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals is an American biopharmaceutical company that focuses on acquiring and developing royalty-generating assets. As of 2024, the company's portfolio included royalty rights to approximately 90 pharmaceutical products across a range of therapeutic areas. Notable products from which Ligand receives royalties include the multiple myeloma (cancer) treatments Kyprolis and Evomela, the kidney disease therapy Filspari, and the pneumococcal vaccine Vaxneuvance. The company also own...

LASR vs LGND — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
LASR
LASR
1.3× larger
LASR
$80.2M
$59.7M
LGND
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
LASR
LASR
+15.8% gap
LASR
55.2%
39.4%
LGND
Higher net margin
LGND
LGND
74.3% more per $
LGND
75.1%
0.8%
LASR
Faster 2-yr revenue CAGR
LGND
LGND
Annualised
LGND
38.8%
26.0%
LASR

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q4 FY2025

Metric
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Revenue
$80.2M
$59.7M
Net Profit
$645.0K
$44.8M
Gross Margin
33.1%
Operating Margin
66.0%
23.2%
Net Margin
0.8%
75.1%
Revenue YoY
55.2%
39.4%
Net Profit YoY
244.1%
EPS (diluted)
$0.01
$2.42

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
$80.2M
Q4 25
$81.2M
$59.7M
Q3 25
$66.7M
$115.5M
Q2 25
$61.7M
$47.6M
Q1 25
$51.7M
$45.3M
Q4 24
$47.4M
$42.8M
Q3 24
$56.1M
$51.8M
Q2 24
$50.5M
$41.5M
Net Profit
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
$645.0K
Q4 25
$-4.9M
$44.8M
Q3 25
$-6.9M
$117.3M
Q2 25
$-3.6M
$4.8M
Q1 25
$-8.1M
$-42.5M
Q4 24
$-25.0M
$-31.1M
Q3 24
$-10.3M
$-7.2M
Q2 24
$-11.7M
$-51.9M
Gross Margin
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
33.1%
Q4 25
30.7%
Q3 25
31.1%
Q2 25
29.9%
Q1 25
26.7%
Q4 24
2.4%
Q3 24
22.4%
Q2 24
23.5%
Operating Margin
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
66.0%
Q4 25
-6.7%
23.2%
Q3 25
-10.9%
47.6%
Q2 25
-6.9%
17.7%
Q1 25
-18.6%
-79.9%
Q4 24
-55.8%
-22.5%
Q3 24
-21.0%
6.1%
Q2 24
-25.1%
-46.0%
Net Margin
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
0.8%
Q4 25
-6.0%
75.1%
Q3 25
-10.3%
101.6%
Q2 25
-5.8%
10.2%
Q1 25
-15.7%
-93.6%
Q4 24
-52.7%
-72.6%
Q3 24
-18.4%
-13.8%
Q2 24
-23.2%
-125.0%
EPS (diluted)
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
$0.01
Q4 25
$-0.10
$2.42
Q3 25
$-0.14
$5.68
Q2 25
$-0.07
$0.24
Q1 25
$-0.16
$-2.21
Q4 24
$-0.52
$-1.70
Q3 24
$-0.21
$-0.39
Q2 24
$-0.25
$-2.88

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$298.2M
$733.5M
Total DebtLower is stronger
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$429.2M
$1.0B
Total Assets
$515.7M
$1.6B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
$298.2M
Q4 25
$98.7M
$733.5M
Q3 25
$81.1M
$664.5M
Q2 25
$78.8M
$245.0M
Q1 25
$82.2M
$208.9M
Q4 24
$65.8M
$256.2M
Q3 24
$41.5M
$219.6M
Q2 24
$49.4M
$226.9M
Stockholders' Equity
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
$429.2M
Q4 25
$226.7M
$1.0B
Q3 25
$218.5M
$950.2M
Q2 25
$216.0M
$828.5M
Q1 25
$212.8M
$795.5M
Q4 24
$216.4M
$830.4M
Q3 24
$235.3M
$841.2M
Q2 24
$239.5M
$775.2M
Total Assets
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
$515.7M
Q4 25
$315.2M
$1.6B
Q3 25
$298.7M
$1.5B
Q2 25
$295.3M
$948.6M
Q1 25
$290.0M
$905.4M
Q4 24
$270.2M
$941.8M
Q3 24
$291.3M
$954.9M
Q2 24
$294.3M
$866.4M

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$45.9M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$45.9M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
76.9%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
0.0%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
1.03×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$48.9M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
Q4 25
$17.5M
$45.9M
Q3 25
$5.2M
$13.1M
Q2 25
$-1.4M
$15.8M
Q1 25
$-20.0K
$-25.4M
Q4 24
$-3.9M
$28.5M
Q3 24
$-5.6M
$36.5M
Q2 24
$-4.2M
$13.3M
Free Cash Flow
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
Q4 25
$15.9M
$45.9M
Q3 25
$2.4M
$13.1M
Q2 25
$-3.8M
$15.6M
Q1 25
$-2.3M
$-25.7M
Q4 24
$-6.5M
$27.8M
Q3 24
$-7.2M
$35.9M
Q2 24
$-6.4M
$12.9M
FCF Margin
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
Q4 25
19.6%
76.9%
Q3 25
3.7%
11.3%
Q2 25
-6.1%
32.7%
Q1 25
-4.5%
-56.6%
Q4 24
-13.7%
64.8%
Q3 24
-12.9%
69.4%
Q2 24
-12.6%
31.1%
Capex Intensity
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
Q4 25
2.0%
0.0%
Q3 25
4.2%
0.0%
Q2 25
3.9%
0.4%
Q1 25
4.4%
0.5%
Q4 24
5.5%
1.7%
Q3 24
2.9%
1.2%
Q2 24
4.2%
1.0%
Cash Conversion
LASR
LASR
LGND
LGND
Q1 26
Q4 25
1.03×
Q3 25
0.11×
Q2 25
3.26×
Q1 25
Q4 24
Q3 24
Q2 24

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

LASR
LASR

Products$58.2M73%
Development$22.0M27%

LGND
LGND

Intangible Royalty Assets$40.7M68%
Financial Royalty Assets$9.8M16%
Material Sales Captisol$7.8M13%
Vaxneuvance$1.4M2%

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