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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.

Company profile comparison for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
Profile ItemABBVAZN
NameAbbVie Inc.AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization440.83 billion USD242.64 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 2, 2013May 12, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ABBV
AZN
GSPC
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
Total Return (1Y)25.66%0.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)22.03%5.20%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)20.81%8.07%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ABBV
AZN
GSPC
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.05%28.07%
Beta (5Y)0.290.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)-21.92%-27.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)6.66M2.81M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ABBV and AZN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.83-0.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.30-0.17

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: AstraZeneca (AZN) earns 21.97% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AbbVie (ABBV) has no ROE this period.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
100.28%
Q3
3.43%
Median
-33.05%
Q1
-62.24%
Min
-157.61%
ABBV
--

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

21.97%

Max
100.28%
AZN
21.97%
Q3
3.43%
Median
-33.05%
Q1
-62.24%
Min
-157.61%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): ABBV does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; AZN is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.02% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and AbbVie (ABBV) at 9.80% also retains a top-quartile share.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.80%

Max
13.44%
ABBV
9.80%
Q3
3.18%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-14.36%

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.02%

AZN
17.02%
Max
13.44%
Q3
3.18%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-14.36%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 40.04% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.46% 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

40.04%

Max
76.04%
ABBV
40.04%
Q3
10.89%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-122.64%
Min
-308.66%

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.46%

Max
76.04%
AZN
23.46%
Q3
10.89%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-122.64%
Min
-308.66%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
ROE (TTM)--21.97%
ROA (TTM)10.51%8.02%
Net Margin (TTM)9.80%17.02%
Operating Margin (TTM)40.04%23.46%
Gross Margin (TTM)72.79%81.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 8.57% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at -0.84% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.57%8.63%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.75%9.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)-0.84%45.33%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-29.03%45.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 0.81 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.89 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

0.81

Max
26.78
Q3
12.43
Median
5.72
Q1
2.77
ABBV
0.81
Min
0.10

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.89

Max
26.78
Q3
12.43
Median
5.72
Q1
2.77
AZN
0.89
Min
0.10
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: AstraZeneca (AZN) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64 against its industry range, while AbbVie (ABBV) reports no figure this period.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
1.48
Q3
0.64
Median
0.14
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
ABBV
--

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.64

Max
1.48
Q3
0.64
AZN
0.64
Median
0.14
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): ABBV does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; AZN is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.810.89
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.64
Net Debt / EBITDA2.091.38

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 2.72% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 2.05% 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

2.72%

ABBV
2.72%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.05%

AZN
2.05%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AbbVie (ABBV) reports payout ratio above 100% at 190.40%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 47.41%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

190.40%

ABBV
190.40%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

47.41%

AZN
47.41%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.72%2.05%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)190.40%47.41%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.42 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 70.47 sits in the richer quartile — ABBV needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

70.47

Max
77.53
ABBV
70.47
Q3
41.75
Median
27.59
Q1
15.21
Min
0.13

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.42

Max
77.53
Q3
41.75
Median
27.59
AZN
23.42
Q1
15.21
Min
0.13
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both AbbVie (ABBV) at 6.85 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 3.95 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.85

Max
73.14
Q3
31.51
Median
7.39
ABBV
6.85
Q1
3.47
Min
0.01

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.95

Max
73.14
Q3
31.51
Median
7.39
AZN
3.95
Q1
3.47
Min
0.01
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AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AbbVie (ABBV) reports a negative P/B ratio of -74.27, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 4.82, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-74.27

Max
15.18
Q3
7.45
Median
3.92
Q1
1.79
Min
-5.47
ABBV
-74.27

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.82

Max
15.18
Q3
7.45
AZN
4.82
Median
3.92
Q1
1.79
Min
-5.47
Loading chart…
AbbVie (ABBV) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricABBVAZN
P/E Ratio (TTM)70.4723.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.853.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-74.274.82
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.83%2.02%