Top Canadian Genetics Stocks of 2024

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Genomics is an exciting new field in science. It involves studying a person’s entire network of genes to understand how variations in DNA might cause diseases.

Though it has immense potential for the future of healthcare, the genomics industry is still very young. The Human Genome Project, which mapped out the human genetic blueprint for the first time, was completed less than 20 years ago, in April 2003. 

Since then, genomics companies have made many advancements, but there are still many problems to solve. The industry as a whole has tremendous unrealized potential.

Genetic stocks can be complicated to understand, yet the rewards could pay off over the long run. For those interested in investing in the future of healthcare and science, here’s a beginner’s guide to genomics stocks.

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.

Illumina’s revenue for the fiscal year 2023 was $4.50 billion, which is a 2% decrease from 2022. For the fiscal year 2024, Illumina anticipates Core Illumina revenue to be approximately flat compared to 2023, with a non-GAAP operating margin of about 20%.

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 more than a million of its top-performing Cologuard® and Oncotype DX® test results in the first quarter of 2024.

In 2023, the company saw a 20% increase in revenue to $2.5 billion compared to 2022, alongside a significant improvement in its financial performance, with the net loss decreasing by 67% to $204.1 million from the previous year. The company anticipates revenue of $2.810-$2.850 billion during 2024.

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.  

The company is actively enrolling patients for the Phase 3 MAGNITUDE trial of NTLA-2001 and preparing for a crucial Phase 3 study for the treatment of ATTRv-PN. Positive interim results from the Phase 1 study of NTLA-2002 showcased a 95% mean reduction in monthly HAE attack rate.

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.  

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

This article contains general educational content only and does not take into account your personal financial situation. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be considered, and you may need to seek independent financial advice.

To the best of our knowledge, all information in this article is accurate as of time of posting. In our educational articles, a "top stock" is always defined by the largest market cap at the time of last update. On this page, neither the author nor The Motley Fool have chosen a "top stock" by personal opinion.

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