Genomics is one of the most transformative fields in modern science, focused on analyzing an individual’s complete set of genes to better understand disease risk, drug response, and human biology at a molecular level. Advances in DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence have dramatically reduced sequencing costs and accelerated discovery, pushing genomics closer to everyday clinical use.
While the field is still relatively young, its momentum has increased significantly in recent years. Since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, genomics has evolved from a research-driven discipline into a growing commercial industry supporting precision medicine, cancer diagnostics, rare disease identification, and drug development. By the mid-2020s, large healthcare systems and pharmaceutical companies have increasingly integrated genomic data into clinical trials and treatment decisions, signaling a shift from experimentation to adoption.
Despite this progress, the genomics industry remains early in its growth cycle. Many technologies are still scaling, regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, and profitability is uneven across the sector. However, these challenges also reflect the industry’s long-term upside, as genomics is expected to play a central role in the future of personalized healthcare.
Genomics stocks can be complex and volatile, but for long-term investors, they offer exposure to a powerful convergence of biology, data, and technology. For those interested in the next wave of healthcare innovation, here’s an overview of the top Canadian genomics stocks to watch in 2026.
What are genetics stocks?
Genetics stocks are publicly traded companies using cutting-edge research and technology to study how genes work together, especially in complex diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma.
For many of these companies, the long-term goal is to one day treat life-threatening conditions by removing mutated genes and replacing them with new DNA strands that improve a person’s well-being.
Types of genomics stocks
Much like other market sectors, the genomics industry has a “pipeline.” Some companies are upstream, making key technology, and others are downstream, using the technology to treat patients.
To help us understand how the pipeline flows, we can break genomics companies into three main groups:
Genetic sequencing
Sequencing companies provide the tools, equipment, and technology to study a person’s base pair sequences (all 3.05 billion of them).
These companies are vital to the rest of the genomics field. They literally provide the blueprint for an individual’s DNA. Without their advancements in technology, which have cut sequencing costs from millions to just $100 per person, we could never study DNA on such a wide scale.
Genetic testing and diagnostics
Genetic testing companies are fairly well-known for their “at-home” ancestry tests. But beyond figuring out how much “Neanderthal” you have, testing companies also study a person’s genetic sequence and look for changes. Such changes, called variants or mutations, could be causing underlying diseases.
Likewise, when a person has known symptoms of a specific disease, a genetic diagnosis can tell if the person has the mutated gene for that specific disorder.
Gene editing
Editing companies are on the cutting edge of science—literally. Their work is finding a way to “cut out” a genetic variation in DNA and replace it with genes that could eradicate rare diseases.
These companies have the potential to provide “one-and-done” treatments for genetic disorders. However, they’re still fairly new, and they haven’t perfected their technology. In this field, xpect to find growth stocks with high risk and volatility in this branch of genomics, with large upside and downside potential.
Top genomics stocks in Canada
Canadian investors will find the biggest genomics companies in the United States. While there are many companies researching and developing genomics in Canada, most of them are private, and they haven’t started trading on Canadian exchanges.
For those interested in genomics stocks, let’s look at a top sequencing company, a top testing company, and finally one of the best editing companies in the genomics sector.
| Genomics Stock | Description |
| Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) | Industry leader in short-read sequencing technology. |
| Exact Sciences (NASDAQ:EXAS) | Key developer of cancer diagnostic tests and producer of Cologuard. |
| Intellia Therapeutics (NASDAQ:NTLA) | Genomics editing company developing CRISPR technology for protein disorders. |
Illumina
When it comes to household names in the genomics sector, perhaps no other stock comes close to being a blue-chip than sequencing company Illumina.
Founded in 1998, Illumina owns an impressive 80% of the global sequencing market. Consumables—lab products, such as test kits, that are used and discarded—make up almost 90% of its revenues. Because its lab instruments are so reliable, those who buy from Illumina almost never buy from any other brand.
Illumina rose to prominence with its development of short-read sequencing, which breaks the 3.05 billion sequences of DNA into smaller chunks. Many labs and researchers prefer short-read sequencing not because sequences are shortened, but because they’re far less expensive.
In 2014, Illumina was the first company to offer a $1,000 sequencing test (down from the $1 million test offered in 2007). Recently, it developed a machine that could reduce the cost to $100 per test.
The latest guidance for Illumina for the full fiscal year 2025 shows a focus on operational efficiency to manage revenue headwinds and has successfully raised its profitability outlook, now expecting Non-GAAP Operating Margin around 23% (up from 21% in 2024). This positive revision to earnings guidance is driven by strong execution, accelerated growth in the clinical segment, and successful cost control.
Exact Sciences
Exact Sciences is a testing and diagnostics company that specializes in cancer screening and testing products. Its signature product is Cologuard, a non-invasive DNA screening for colon cancer that can detect DNA mutations before symptoms start.
Though it is well known for providing alternatives to colonoscopies, it also has tests for other cancers, such as prostate, liver, and breast cancer. Exact Sciences has delivered 1.2 million of its top-performing Cologuard® and Oncotype DX® test results in the first quarter of 2025. The company continues to innovate, launching the new Cancerguard multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test.
Financial performance through Q3 2025 shows accelerated growth and strong efficiency: total revenue grew 20% year-over-year to a record $851 million, driven by 22% growth in screening revenue. This momentum, combined with successful cost control, led to a record Adjusted EBITDA of $135 million and record Free Cash Flow of $190 million in the quarter.
This financial strength, coupled with Cologuard adoption reaching over 200,000 ordering providers, positions Exact Sciences as a high-growth leader rapidly progressing toward consistent, company-wide profitability.
Intellia Therapeutics
Co-founded by 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner, Jennifer Doudna, and Virginijus Šikšnys, Intellia Therapeutics is a genomics editing company on the brink of developing a gene therapy solution for transthyretin amyloidosis (or TTR).
Called “gene therapy,” the technology mimics the defense mechanisms of bacteria when confronted with a virus: it cuts out the virus’s DNA to effectively eliminate it. Intellia’s gene therapy, called NTLA-2001, eradicates the TTR gene in the same manner, by cutting out the TTR gene to remove the disorder from a person’s DNA.
Intellia has recently made significant progress in its CRISPR-based gene editing therapies. In January 2025, the company dosed the first patient in the HAELO Phase 3 study of NTLA-2002, an investigational in vivo CRISPR gene editing treatment for hereditary angioedema (HAE). This follows positive results from the Phase 2 study, which demonstrated NTLA-2002’s potential as a functional cure for HAE. Additionally, in March 2024, Intellia initiated the Phase 3 MAGNITUDE trial for NTLA-2001, targeting transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).
If Intellia can perfect this technology, they might be able to use it to treat other protein-folding genetic diseases, such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease.
Intellia Therapeutics’ financial situation as of Q3 2025 shows a significant reduction in Net Loss to $101.3 million, driven by a 23% cut in R&D expenses and $13.8 million in collaboration revenue. The company’s cash position of $669.9 million is projected to fund operations into mid-2027. However, this stability is overshadowed by the FDA’s clinical hold on the key Phase 3 nex-z trial, forcing a strategic shift where the success of the lonvo-z program for hereditary angioedema (HAE) has become paramount for the company’s near-term valuation.
Are genomics stocks right for you?
Genomics stocks are ideal for scientifically minded investors who understand genetics and biology, or who have experience in the field. For those who are new to genetics, spend some time understanding the science before you start investing in companies.
Be sure you understand how genomics companies make money, how they can grow and scale revenue, and what challenges they might face. These include FDA regulations, failed clinical trials, and takeovers by bigger companies.
Be aware that many genomics companies have not yet stood the test of time. Though the field has immense potential, look for companies that you believe will be around in 10, 15, even 20 years.
Finally, if you don’t want to handpick genomics stocks, you could invest in a genomics-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Some good choices to consider include:
- ARK Genomic Revolution ETF
- Global X Genomics & Biotechnology ETF
- Invesco Dynamic Biotechnology & Genome ETF
RELATED: Top Biotech Stocks in Canada