ABBV vs. NVO: AbbVie vs. Novo Nordisk Stock Comparison
How do AbbVie (ABBV) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ABBV is classified in Biotechnology while NVO is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
AbbVie (ABBV) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AbbVie Inc. | Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Denmark |
| 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 | 452.48 billion USD | 218.40 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 2013 | April 30, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 42.84% | -20.26% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 25.49% | -13.59% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 21.34% | 4.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.90% | 51.79% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.30 | 0.75 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.92% | -74.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 7.09M | 13.81M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.50 | -0.47 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.41 | -0.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Novo Nordisk (NVO) earns 71.40% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AbbVie (ABBV) has no ROE this period.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 99.40%
- Q3
- 2.50%
- Median
- -31.42%
- Q1
- -62.21%
- Min
- -157.07%
- ABBV
- --
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
71.40%
- Max
- 99.40%
- NVO
- 71.40%
- Q3
- 2.50%
- Median
- -31.42%
- Q1
- -62.21%
- Min
- -157.07%
Net Margin (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 37.21% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and AbbVie (ABBV) at 5.79% also retains a top-quartile share.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.79%
- Max
- 11.75%
- ABBV
- 5.79%
- Q3
- 2.69%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -3.38%
- Min
- -11.53%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
37.21%
- NVO
- 37.21%
- Max
- 11.75%
- Q3
- 2.69%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -3.38%
- Min
- -11.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 32.16% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 61.57% 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
- 4.66%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -121.08%
- Min
- -309.54%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
61.57%
- Max
- 100.30%
- NVO
- 61.57%
- Q3
- 4.66%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -121.08%
- Min
- -309.54%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 71.40% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.03% | 19.25% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 5.79% | 37.21% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.16% | 61.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 72.03% | 83.20% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 8.57% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at -1.26% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 1.77% 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 | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.57% | 6.43% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.75% | 20.43% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -1.26% | 1.77% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -29.13% | 23.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 0.80 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.79 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
- 12.33
- Median
- 5.81
- Q1
- 2.71
- ABBV
- 0.80
- Min
- 0.28
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.79
- Max
- 26.16
- Q3
- 12.33
- Median
- 5.81
- Q1
- 2.71
- NVO
- 0.79
- Min
- 0.28
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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
- --
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.72
- Max
- 1.60
- NVO
- 0.72
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.80 | 0.79 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.72 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.12 | 0.72 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 2.66% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 23.58% 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
2.66%
- ABBV
- 2.66%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.58%
- NVO
- 23.58%
- 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 42.59%, 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%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
42.59%
- NVO
- 42.59%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.66% | 23.58% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 325.98% | 42.59% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 11.90 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 123.72 trades above its peer range — a wide earnings-valuation gap relative to industry peers.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
123.72
- ABBV
- 123.72
- Max
- 79.93
- Q3
- 47.39
- Median
- 25.31
- Q1
- 15.26
- Min
- 2.05
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.90
- Max
- 79.93
- Q3
- 47.39
- Median
- 25.31
- Q1
- 15.26
- NVO
- 11.90
- Min
- 2.05
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.67 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while AbbVie (ABBV) at 7.20 prices around its industry’s middle — NVO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.20
- Max
- 63.16
- Q3
- 28.29
- Median
- 8.07
- ABBV
- 7.20
- Q1
- 3.52
- Min
- 0.01
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.67
- Max
- 63.16
- Q3
- 28.29
- Median
- 8.07
- Q1
- 3.52
- NVO
- 0.67
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
AbbVie (ABBV) reports a negative P/B ratio of -67.99, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 7.08, ranking against industry peers normally.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-67.99
- Max
- 16.09
- Q3
- 7.48
- Median
- 3.80
- Q1
- 1.72
- Min
- -5.70
- ABBV
- -67.99
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.08
- Max
- 16.09
- Q3
- 7.48
- NVO
- 7.08
- Median
- 3.80
- Q1
- 1.72
- Min
- -5.70
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 123.72 | 11.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.20 | 0.67 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -67.99 | 7.08 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4.60% | -5.51% |