ABBV vs. VRTX: AbbVie vs. Vertex Pharmaceuticals Stock Comparison
How do AbbVie (ABBV) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) are both classified in the Biotechnology sub-industry within the broader Biotechnology industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AbbVie Inc. | Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| 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 | 138.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | January 2, 2013 | July 24, 1991 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 37.33% | 34.89% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.74% | 14.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 24.73% | 23.65% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.65% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.21 | 0.29 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -21.92% | -29.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.76M | 1.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.29 | 1.03 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.02 | 1.68 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) earns 20.80% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AbbVie (ABBV) has no ROE this period.
ABBV
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
- ABBV
- --
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.80%
- Max
- 109.18%
- VRTX
- 20.80%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 30.70% 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
30.70%
- VRTX
- 30.70%
- 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.57% 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
39.59%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ABBV
- 39.59%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.57%
- Max
- 83.12%
- VRTX
- 35.57%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 20.80% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.74% | 10.62% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.67% | 30.70% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.59% | 35.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 73.72% | 54.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 8.57% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 8.90% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: AbbVie (ABBV) reports EPS growth of -0.84%, ranked against its industry; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.57% | 8.90% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.75% | 10.35% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -0.84% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -29.03% | 6.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AbbVie (ABBV) at 0.87 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 2.34 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
0.87
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- ABBV
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.10
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.34
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- VRTX
- 2.34
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31 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
- --
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.31
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- VRTX
- 0.31
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.87 | 2.34 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | 0.31 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.21 | 0.03 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- VRTX
- 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; Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) 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%
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- VRTX
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.40% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 117.35% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 35.21 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.21
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- VRTX
- 35.21
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both AbbVie (ABBV) at 7.80 and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) at 10.71 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.71
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- VRTX
- 10.71
- 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 Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) reports 6.63, 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
VRTX
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.63
- Max
- 13.53
- VRTX
- 6.63
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ABBV | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 50.05 | 35.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.80 | 10.71 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -112.34 | 6.63 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.44% | 1.69% |