ABBV vs. AZN: AbbVie vs. AstraZeneca Stock Comparison
How do AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN) 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ABBV is classified in Biotechnology while AZN is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
AbbVie (ABBV) trades as ordinary local shares, while AstraZeneca (AZN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AbbVie Inc. | AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 450.11 billion USD | 294.91 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 2013 | May 12, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.98% | 39.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 27.38% | 15.54% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.57% | 12.01% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.98% | 26.89% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.30 | 0.25 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.92% | -27.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 7.12M | 1.98M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.35 | 1.31 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.13 | 2.22 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: AstraZeneca (AZN) earns 23.48% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AbbVie (ABBV) has no ROE this period.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 100.65%
- Q3
- 2.17%
- Median
- -32.82%
- Q1
- -63.57%
- Min
- -158.89%
- ABBV
- --
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.48%
- Max
- 100.65%
- AZN
- 23.48%
- Q3
- 2.17%
- Median
- -32.82%
- Q1
- -63.57%
- Min
- -158.89%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 5.79% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.19% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.79%
- ABBV
- 5.79%
- Max
- 5.58%
- Q3
- 1.05%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.00%
- Min
- -5.57%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
17.19%
- AZN
- 17.19%
- Max
- 5.58%
- Q3
- 1.05%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.00%
- Min
- -5.57%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 32.16% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 27.94% 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
32.16%
- Max
- 100.30%
- ABBV
- 32.16%
- Q3
- 3.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -133.46%
- Min
- -337.81%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
27.94%
- Max
- 100.30%
- AZN
- 27.94%
- Q3
- 3.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -133.46%
- Min
- -337.81%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 23.48% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.03% | 8.49% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.79% | 17.19% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.16% | 27.94% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 72.03% | 81.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.57% | 8.63% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.75% | 9.82% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -1.26% | 45.33% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -29.13% | 45.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 0.80 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.91 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.80
- Max
- 26.16
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.81
- Q1
- 2.70
- ABBV
- 0.80
- Min
- 0.23
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.91
- Max
- 26.16
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.81
- Q1
- 2.70
- AZN
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.23
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: AstraZeneca (AZN) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72 against its industry range, while AbbVie (ABBV) reports no figure this period.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 1.60
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
- ABBV
- --
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.72
- Max
- 1.60
- AZN
- 0.72
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.91 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.72 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.12 | 1.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 2.58% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.64% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.58%
- ABBV
- 2.58%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.64%
- AZN
- 1.64%
- 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 325.98%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 47.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
325.98%
- ABBV
- 325.98%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
47.70%
- AZN
- 47.70%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.58% | 1.64% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 325.98% | 47.70% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 28.64 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 124.88 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for ABBV’s trailing earnings.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
124.88
- ABBV
- 124.88
- Max
- 84.76
- Q3
- 48.50
- Median
- 26.28
- Q1
- 15.88
- Min
- 2.09
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.64
- Max
- 84.76
- Q3
- 48.50
- AZN
- 28.64
- Median
- 26.28
- Q1
- 15.88
- Min
- 2.09
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both AbbVie (ABBV) at 7.17 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.88 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.17
- Max
- 68.43
- Q3
- 29.55
- Median
- 8.01
- ABBV
- 7.17
- Q1
- 3.56
- Min
- 0.01
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.88
- Max
- 68.43
- Q3
- 29.55
- Median
- 8.01
- AZN
- 4.88
- Q1
- 3.56
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
AbbVie (ABBV) reports a negative P/B ratio of -67.63, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 6.22, ranking against industry peers normally.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-67.63
- Max
- 15.41
- Q3
- 7.29
- Median
- 3.81
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -6.68
- ABBV
- -67.63
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.22
- Max
- 15.41
- Q3
- 7.29
- AZN
- 6.22
- Median
- 3.81
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -6.68
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 124.88 | 28.64 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.17 | 4.88 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -67.63 | 6.22 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.62% | 2.22% |