ALC vs. AMGN: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ALC and AMGN, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | ALC | AMGN |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Alcon Inc. | Amgen Inc. |
| Country | Switzerland | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Equipment & Supplies | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 37.97 billion USD | 158.61 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | April 9, 2019 | June 17, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ALC and AMGN 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.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | AMGN |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.99% | -0.93% |
| 13-Week Price Return | -12.43% | -0.64% |
| 26-Week Price Return | -27.18% | -4.92% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 0.56% | -7.19% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 2.26% | 4.40% |
| Year-to-Date Return | -21.20% | 13.04% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.10M | 2.57M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.10M | 2.37M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 28.35% | 25.90% |
| Beta | 0.97 | 0.46 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
ALC
4.93%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 29.93%
- Q3
- 16.99%
- Median
- 9.28%
- Q1
- 5.10%
- Min
- -12.52%
ALC’s Return on Equity of 4.93% is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
AMGN
97.92%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 97.92%
- Q3
- 11.99%
- Median
- -19.30%
- Q1
- -51.29%
- Min
- -132.03%
In the upper quartile for the Biotechnology industry, AMGN’s Return on Equity of 97.92% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
ALC
10.70%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 24.41%
- Q3
- 13.71%
- Median
- 10.08%
- Q1
- 5.96%
- Min
- -5.58%
ALC’s Net Profit Margin of 10.70% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
AMGN
18.96%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 73.34%
- Q3
- 18.98%
- Median
- -12.96%
- Q1
- -105.72%
- Min
- -259.82%
AMGN’s Net Profit Margin of 18.96% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Biotechnology industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
ALC
14.38%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 31.09%
- Q3
- 18.11%
- Median
- 15.07%
- Q1
- 8.48%
- Min
- -0.28%
ALC’s Operating Profit Margin of 14.38% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
AMGN
24.01%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 78.85%
- Q3
- 21.90%
- Median
- -13.30%
- Q1
- -109.94%
- Min
- -278.10%
An Operating Profit Margin of 24.01% places AMGN in the upper quartile for the Biotechnology 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 | ALC | AMGN |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 4.93% | 97.92% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.49% | 7.35% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 10.70% | 18.96% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 14.38% | 24.01% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 54.26% | 69.71% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
2.60
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 5.19
- Q3
- 3.00
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- 0.86
ALC’s Current Ratio of 2.60 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
AMGN
1.31
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 16.97
- Q3
- 8.39
- Median
- 4.11
- Q1
- 2.64
- Min
- 0.74
AMGN’s Current Ratio of 1.31 falls into the lower quartile for the Biotechnology industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
0.24
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 1.61
- Q3
- 0.76
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.14
- Min
- 0.00
ALC’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.24 is typical for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
AMGN
7.57
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 1.92
- Q3
- 0.79
- Median
- 0.12
- Q1
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 7.57, AMGN operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Biotechnology industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
ALC
9.60
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 56.35
- Q3
- 25.56
- Median
- 9.60
- Q1
- 3.78
- Min
- -26.49
ALC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.60 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
AMGN
2.40
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 72.37
- Q3
- 1.03
- Median
- -9.59
- Q1
- -65.05
- Min
- -163.11
AMGN’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.40 is in the upper quartile for the Biotechnology industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | AMGN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.60 | 1.31 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 1.61 | 0.98 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.24 | 7.57 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 9.60 | 2.40 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
ALC
0.44%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 4.15%
- Q3
- 1.76%
- Median
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALC’s Dividend Yield of 0.44% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
AMGN
3.08%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AMGN’s Dividend Yield of 3.08% is exceptionally high, placing it well above the typical range for the Biotechnology industry. While this may seem attractive, an unusually high yield can sometimes be a warning sign, reflecting a falling stock price or market concerns about the dividend’s sustainability.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
ALC
94.32%
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 160.00%
- Q3
- 66.60%
- Median
- 27.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ALC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 94.32% is in the upper quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies 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.
AMGN
82.64%
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
At 82.64%, AMGN’s Dividend Payout Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical range for the Biotechnology industry. While this provides a significant return to shareholders, it may limit funds for reinvestment and could be difficult to sustain.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | AMGN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.44% | 3.08% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 94.32% | 82.64% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
ALC
35.26
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 67.29
- Q3
- 47.01
- Median
- 30.94
- Q1
- 23.91
- Min
- 10.79
ALC’s P/E Ratio of 35.26 is within the middle range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
AMGN
24.03
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 40.44
- Q3
- 39.37
- Median
- 22.12
- Q1
- 15.76
- Min
- 3.48
AMGN’s P/E Ratio of 24.03 is within the middle range for the Biotechnology industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
ALC
3.77
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 9.49
- Q3
- 5.41
- Median
- 2.86
- Q1
- 2.07
- Min
- 0.74
ALC’s P/S Ratio of 3.77 aligns with the market consensus for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
AMGN
4.55
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 92.67
- Q3
- 41.36
- Median
- 8.45
- Q1
- 4.46
- Min
- 0.97
AMGN’s P/S Ratio of 4.55 aligns with the market consensus for the Biotechnology industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
ALC
1.98
Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry
- Max
- 10.85
- Q3
- 6.56
- Median
- 3.53
- Q1
- 2.36
- Min
- 0.71
ALC’s P/B Ratio of 1.98 is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
AMGN
20.21
Biotechnology Industry
- Max
- 22.72
- Q3
- 10.68
- Median
- 4.55
- Q1
- 2.44
- Min
- 0.59
AMGN’s P/B Ratio of 20.21 is in the upper tier for the Biotechnology industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ALC | AMGN |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 35.26 | 24.03 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.77 | 4.55 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.98 | 20.21 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 26.74 | 14.49 |