ABBV vs. ZTS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ABBV and ZTS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
ABBV’s market capitalization of 334.34 billion USD is substantially larger than ZTS’s 70.87 billion USD, indicating a significant difference in their market valuations.
ZTS carries a higher beta at 0.94, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ABBV (beta: 0.49) exhibits greater stability.
| Symbol | ABBV | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AbbVie Inc. | Zoetis Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic |
| CEO | Robert A. Michael CPA | Kristin C. Peck |
| Price | 189.28 USD | 159.18 USD |
| Market Cap | 334.34 billion USD | 70.87 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.49 | 0.94 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | January 2, 2013 | February 1, 2013 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ABBV and ZTS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ABBV
95.59%
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 95.59%
- Q3
- 76.92%
- Median
- 30.71%
- Q1
- 8.97%
- Min
- -14.85%
In the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry, ABBV’s Return on Equity of 95.59% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
ZTS
51.32%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 51.32%
- Q3
- 9.89%
- Median
- -3.37%
- Q1
- -20.99%
- Min
- -36.07%
In the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, ZTS’s Return on Equity of 51.32% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Return on Invested Capital
ABBV
17.93%
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 25.72%
- Q3
- 17.89%
- Median
- 11.47%
- Q1
- 9.39%
- Min
- 2.87%
In the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry, ABBV’s Return on Invested Capital of 17.93% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
ZTS
22.54%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 22.54%
- Q3
- 8.45%
- Median
- 1.42%
- Q1
- -9.01%
- Min
- -28.41%
In the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, ZTS’s Return on Invested Capital of 22.54% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
ABBV
7.31%
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 34.51%
- Q3
- 23.04%
- Median
- 14.73%
- Q1
- 11.78%
- Min
- 2.18%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry, ABBV’s Net Profit Margin of 7.31% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
ZTS
27.12%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 40.33%
- Q3
- 11.92%
- Median
- -0.45%
- Q1
- -13.07%
- Min
- -34.27%
A Net Profit Margin of 27.12% places ZTS in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
ABBV
28.31%
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 40.70%
- Q3
- 28.90%
- Median
- 23.41%
- Q1
- 19.05%
- Min
- 16.13%
ABBV’s Operating Profit Margin of 28.31% is around the midpoint for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
ZTS
37.01%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 46.91%
- Q3
- 19.02%
- Median
- 6.23%
- Q1
- -11.23%
- Min
- -51.89%
An Operating Profit Margin of 37.01% places ZTS in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ABBV | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 95.59% | 51.32% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.08% | 17.86% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 17.93% | 22.54% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 7.31% | 27.12% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 28.31% | 37.01% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 77.46% | 70.20% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ABBV
0.76
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 1.67
- Q3
- 1.37
- Median
- 1.26
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.39
ABBV’s Current Ratio of 0.76 falls into the lower quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
ZTS
1.74
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 5.74
- Q3
- 3.37
- Median
- 2.64
- Q1
- 1.73
- Min
- 0.88
ZTS’s Current Ratio of 1.74 aligns with the median group of the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ABBV
49.22
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 2.95
- Q3
- 2.44
- Median
- 0.86
- Q1
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.09
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 49.22, ABBV operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Drug Manufacturers - General industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
ZTS
1.45
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 1.45
- Q3
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.62
- Q1
- 0.13
- Min
- 0.00
ZTS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.45. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ABBV
6.14
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 27.46
- Q3
- 14.40
- Median
- 7.80
- Q1
- 4.07
- Min
- 1.67
ABBV’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 6.14 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
ZTS
15.55
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 10.17
- Q3
- 3.39
- Median
- 0.85
- Q1
- -2.63
- Min
- -5.84
With an Interest Coverage Ratio of 15.55, ZTS demonstrates a superior capacity to service its debt, placing it well above the typical range for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This stems from either robust earnings or a conservative debt load.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ABBV | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.76 | 1.74 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.64 | 1.04 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 49.22 | 1.45 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.51 | 0.48 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 3.96 | 1.26 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 6.14 | 15.55 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ABBV and ZTS. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ABBV
3.37%
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 8.72%
- Q3
- 4.10%
- Median
- 3.34%
- Q1
- 1.89%
- Min
- 0.00%
ABBV’s Dividend Yield of 3.37% is consistent with its peers in the Drug Manufacturers - General industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
ZTS
1.17%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 9.29%
- Q3
- 0.31%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.17%, ZTS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ABBV
266.46%
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 266.46%
- Q3
- 78.91%
- Median
- 60.27%
- Q1
- 43.74%
- Min
- 0.00%
ABBV’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 266.46% is above 100%. This means the company is paying out more in dividends than it earned, a practice that is often unsustainable and could indicate a risk to future dividend stability.
ZTS
32.25%
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 125.42%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 32.25% is in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ABBV | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.37% | 1.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 266.46% | 32.25% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ABBV
79.77
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 27.96
- Q3
- 25.84
- Median
- 18.32
- Q1
- 16.65
- Min
- 3.39
At 79.77, ABBV’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
ZTS
28.30
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 40.89
- Q3
- 28.12
- Median
- 23.94
- Q1
- 18.79
- Min
- 7.76
A P/E Ratio of 28.30 places ZTS in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ABBV
7.21
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 3.10
- Q3
- 3.09
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 2.18
- Min
- 1.02
ABBV’s Forward PEG Ratio of 7.21 is exceptionally high for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry. This suggests its stock price is very high relative to its expected earnings growth, signaling significant overvaluation risk.
ZTS
3.05
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 4.19
- Q3
- 2.94
- Median
- 1.47
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.00
A Forward PEG Ratio of 3.05 places ZTS in the upper quartile for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ABBV
5.83
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 6.47
- Q3
- 4.47
- Median
- 3.53
- Q1
- 1.96
- Min
- 0.41
ABBV’s P/S Ratio of 5.83 is in the upper echelon for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
ZTS
7.63
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 7.49
- Q3
- 4.45
- Median
- 2.12
- Q1
- 1.21
- Min
- 0.25
With a P/S Ratio of 7.63, ZTS trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ABBV
235.67
Drug Manufacturers - General Industry
- Max
- 7.80
- Q3
- 7.80
- Median
- 5.30
- Q1
- 4.06
- Min
- 1.08
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Drug Manufacturers - General industry.
ZTS
15.31
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic Industry
- Max
- 4.93
- Q3
- 3.95
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.30
- Min
- 0.13
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic industry.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ABBV | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 79.77 | 28.30 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 7.21 | 3.05 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.83 | 7.63 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 235.67 | 15.31 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 21.73 | 31.07 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 24.39 | 19.06 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.96 | 8.17 |