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AMGN vs. ASND: Amgen vs. Ascendis Pharma Stock Comparison

How do Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) 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

Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) are both classified in the Biotechnology sub-industry within the broader Biotechnology industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
Profile ItemAMGNASND
NameAmgen Inc. Common StockAscendis Pharma A/S
Country/RegionUnited StatesDenmark
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyBiotechnology
Market Capitalization249.05 billion USD16.90 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 17, 1983January 28, 2015
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AMGN
ASND
GSPC
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND), 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 Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
Total Return (1Y)48.82%29.46%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.31%40.62%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)20.67%10.03%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AMGN
ASND
GSPC
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND), 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 Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.12%38.62%
Beta (5Y)0.430.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.86%-55.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.76M698.39K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AMGN and ASND 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 Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.530.65
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.360.99

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 118.78% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Amgen (AMGN) at 78.35% also sits in the top quartile.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

78.35%

Max
109.18%
AMGN
78.35%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

118.78%

ASND
118.78%
Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 24.14% and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 70.85% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.14%

AMGN
24.14%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

70.85%

ASND
70.85%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 35.79% and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 64.98% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.79%

Max
83.12%
AMGN
35.79%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

64.98%

Max
83.12%
ASND
64.98%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
ROE (TTM)78.35%118.78%
ROA (TTM)8.91%9.58%
Net Margin (TTM)24.14%70.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.79%64.98%
Gross Margin (TTM)72.47%91.30%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 98.03% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Amgen (AMGN) at 9.95% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for ASND.

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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Amgen (AMGN) reports EPS growth of 88.23%, ranked against its industry; Ascendis Pharma (ASND) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.95%98.03%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.77%141.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)88.23%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)5.52%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 2.99 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Amgen (AMGN) at 1.48 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AMGN.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.48

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
AMGN
1.48
Min
0.10

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.99

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
ASND
2.99
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 0.31 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Amgen (AMGN) at 3.76 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.76

AMGN
3.76
Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.31

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
ASND
0.31
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.482.99
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.760.31
Net Debt / EBITDA2.31-1.37

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Ascendis Pharma (ASND) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Amgen (AMGN) reports a yield of 2.16%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.16%

AMGN
2.16%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ASND
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Ascendis Pharma (ASND) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Amgen (AMGN) reports a payout of 57.62%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

57.62%

AMGN
57.62%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

ASND
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.16%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)57.62%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 26.69 and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 19.68 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.69

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
AMGN
26.69
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

19.68

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
ASND
19.68
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): 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 Amgen (AMGN) at 6.40 and Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 16.14 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.40

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
AMGN
6.40
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.14

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
ASND
16.14
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 10.45 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Amgen (AMGN) at 17.35 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AMGN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.35

AMGN
17.35
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

ASND

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.45

Max
13.53
ASND
10.45
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. Ascendis Pharma (ASND): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and Ascendis Pharma (ASND)
MetricAMGNASND
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.6919.68
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.4016.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)17.3510.45
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.96%0.08%