ABBV vs. ARGX: AbbVie vs. argenx Stock Comparison
How do AbbVie (ABBV) and argenx (ARGX) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
AbbVie (ABBV) and argenx (ARGX) are both classified in the Biotechnology sub-industry within the broader Biotechnology industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
AbbVie (ABBV) trades as ordinary local shares, while argenx (ARGX) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AbbVie Inc. | argenx SE American Depositary Receipt |
| Country/Region | United States | Netherlands |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 514.92 billion USD | 58.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 2013 | May 18, 2017 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 37.33% | 11.91% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.74% | 25.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.73% | 24.22% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.65% | 37.87% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.21 | 0.45 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.92% | -38.20% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.76M | 359.84K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.29 | 0.20 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.02 | 0.31 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Neither AbbVie (ABBV) nor argenx (ARGX) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- ABBV
- --
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- ARGX
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
argenx (ARGX) at 31.73% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and AbbVie (ABBV) at 15.67% also retains a top-quartile share.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
15.67%
- Max
- 18.05%
- ABBV
- 15.67%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
31.73%
- ARGX
- 31.73%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 39.59% and argenx (ARGX) at 36.27% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
39.59%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ABBV
- 39.59%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.27%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ARGX
- 36.27%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.74% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.67% | 31.73% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.59% | 36.27% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 73.72% | 59.84% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
argenx (ARGX) at 89.64% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 8.57% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ARGX.
EPS Growth
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at -0.84% and argenx (ARGX) at 53.13% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.57% | 89.64% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.75% | 116.25% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -0.84% | 53.13% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -29.03% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: AbbVie (ABBV) shows current ratio of 0.87 against its industry benchmark, while argenx (ARGX) has no reading this period.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.87
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- ABBV
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.10
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
- ARGX
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: argenx (ARGX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01 against its industry range, while AbbVie (ABBV) reports no figure this period.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
- ABBV
- --
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.01
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- ARGX
- 0.01
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.87 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.01 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.21 | -2.70 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
argenx (ARGX) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile AbbVie (ABBV) reports a yield of 2.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.40%
- ABBV
- 2.40%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ARGX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
AbbVie (ABBV) reports payout ratio above 100% at 117.35%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; argenx (ARGX) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
117.35%
- ABBV
- 117.35%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ARGX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.40% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 117.35% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
argenx (ARGX) at 32.12 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 50.05 sits in the richer quartile — ABBV needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
50.05
- Max
- 85.34
- ABBV
- 50.05
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
32.12
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- ARGX
- 32.12
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both AbbVie (ABBV) at 7.80 and argenx (ARGX) at 9.86 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.80
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- ABBV
- 7.80
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.86
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- ARGX
- 9.86
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
AbbVie (ABBV) reports a negative P/B ratio of -112.34, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile argenx (ARGX) reports 172.23, ranking against industry peers normally.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-112.34
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
- ABBV
- -112.34
ARGX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
172.23
- ARGX
- 172.23
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | ARGX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 50.05 | 32.12 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.80 | 9.86 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -112.34 | 172.23 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.44% | -- |