ABBV vs. NVS: AbbVie vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

August 2, 2026

How do AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ABBV is classified in Biotechnology while NVS is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

AbbVie (ABBV) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS)
Profile Item	ABBV	NVS
Name	AbbVie Inc.	Novartis AG Sponsored ADR
Country/Region	United States	Switzerland
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	443.36 billion USD	296.80 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 2013	November 7, 1996
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ABBV

NVS

GSPC

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS), 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 Novartis (NVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
Total Return (1Y)	36.88%	41.47%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	23.00%	18.19%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	20.99%	15.30%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ABBV

NVS

GSPC

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS), 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 Novartis (NVS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	26.19%	21.62%
Beta (5Y)	0.29	0.47
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-21.92%	-20.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)	6.83M	1.81M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

ABBV and NVS 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 Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.25	1.73
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.99	2.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Novartis (NVS) earns 30.35% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AbbVie (ABBV) has no ROE this period.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

Max: 96.56%
Q3: 3.14%
Median: -31.16%
Q1: -60.90%
Min: -156.03%
ABBV: --

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.35%

Max: 96.56%
NVS: 30.35%
Q3: 3.14%
Median: -31.16%
Q1: -60.90%
Min: -156.03%

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): ABBV does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; NVS is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 22.50% 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: 11.00%
ABBV: 9.80%
Q3: 3.30%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -1.87%
Min: -9.05%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.50%

NVS: 22.50%
Max: 11.00%
Q3: 3.30%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -1.87%
Min: -9.05%

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 39.57% and Novartis (NVS) at 34.62% 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

39.57%

Max: 100.30%
ABBV: 39.57%
Q3: 6.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -127.25%
Min: -309.54%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.62%

Max: 100.30%
NVS: 34.62%
Q3: 6.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -127.25%
Min: -309.54%

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
ROE (TTM)	--	30.35%
ROA (TTM)	--	10.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	9.80%	22.50%
Operating Margin (TTM)	39.57%	34.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)	72.79%	74.98%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 8.57% and Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at -1.26% and Novartis (NVS) at 21.81% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.57%	9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	1.75%	9.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-1.26%	21.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-29.13%	31.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Novartis (NVS) shows current ratio of 0.86 against its industry benchmark, while AbbVie (ABBV) has no reading this period.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

Max: 27.38
Q3: 12.61
Median: 5.90
Q1: 2.73
Min: 0.38
ABBV: --

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.86

Max: 27.38
Q3: 12.61
Median: 5.90
Q1: 2.73
NVS: 0.86
Min: 0.38

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): ABBV does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; NVS is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Novartis (NVS) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17 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: 0.16
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00
ABBV: --

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.17

Max: 1.60
NVS: 1.17
Q3: 0.68
Median: 0.16
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): ABBV does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; NVS is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	--	0.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	1.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.06	1.79

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 1.31% and Novartis (NVS) at 2.95% 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

1.31%

ABBV: 1.31%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.95%

NVS: 2.95%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 189.86%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports 71.60%, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

189.86%

ABBV: 189.86%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

71.60%

NVS: 71.60%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.31%	2.95%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	189.86%	71.60%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 23.59 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while AbbVie (ABBV) at 70.89 sits in the richer quartile — ABBV needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

70.89

Max: 83.31
ABBV: 70.89
Q3: 45.67
Median: 28.33
Q1: 15.79
Min: 1.91

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.59

Max: 83.31
Q3: 45.67
Median: 28.33
NVS: 23.59
Q1: 15.79
Min: 1.91

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 6.89 and Novartis (NVS) at 5.24 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.89

Max: 59.81
Q3: 25.99
Median: 7.03
ABBV: 6.89
Q1: 3.36
Min: 0.01

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.24

Max: 59.81
Q3: 25.99
Median: 7.03
NVS: 5.24
Q1: 3.36
Min: 0.01

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 -66.62, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports 7.14, ranking against industry peers normally.

ABBV

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-66.62

Max: 15.70
Q3: 7.32
Median: 3.77
Q1: 1.65
Min: -5.99
ABBV: -66.62

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.14

Max: 15.70
Q3: 7.32
NVS: 7.14
Median: 3.77
Q1: 1.65
Min: -5.99

AbbVie (ABBV) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AbbVie (ABBV) and Novartis (NVS)
Metric	ABBV	NVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	70.89	23.59
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.89	5.24
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-66.62	7.14
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	4.01%