AMGN vs. AZN: Amgen vs. AstraZeneca Stock Comparison
How do Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN) 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but AMGN is classified in Biotechnology while AZN is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
Amgen (AMGN) trades as ordinary local shares, while AstraZeneca (AZN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Amgen Inc. | AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| 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 | 236.38 billion USD | 252.33 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 17, 1983 | May 12, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 60.43% | 0.51% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 23.06% | 7.97% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.68% | 8.79% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.61% | 28.33% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.41 | 0.27 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -24.86% | -27.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.67M | 3.09M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 2.04 | -0.13 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 3.64 | -0.19 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 91.47% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 21.97% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
91.47%
- Max
- 102.29%
- AMGN
- 91.47%
- Q3
- 3.16%
- Median
- -32.34%
- Q1
- -64.79%
- Min
- -157.61%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.97%
- Max
- 102.29%
- AZN
- 21.97%
- Q3
- 3.16%
- Median
- -32.34%
- Q1
- -64.79%
- Min
- -157.61%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 22.95% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.02% 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
22.95%
- AMGN
- 22.95%
- Max
- 12.02%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.89%
- Min
- -13.51%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
17.02%
- AZN
- 17.02%
- Max
- 12.02%
- Q3
- 2.44%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.89%
- Min
- -13.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 35.55% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.46% 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
35.55%
- Max
- 76.04%
- AMGN
- 35.55%
- Q3
- 10.45%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -120.32%
- Min
- -308.66%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
23.46%
- Max
- 76.04%
- AZN
- 23.46%
- Q3
- 10.45%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -120.32%
- Min
- -308.66%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 91.47% | 21.97% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.67% | 8.02% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.95% | 17.02% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 35.55% | 23.46% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 71.89% | 81.69% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 9.95% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Amgen (AMGN) at 88.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AMGN.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.95% | 8.63% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.77% | 9.82% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 88.23% | 45.33% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.52% | 45.80% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 1.37 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.89 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.37
- Max
- 26.10
- Q3
- 12.34
- Median
- 5.72
- Q1
- 2.80
- AMGN
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.10
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.89
- Max
- 26.10
- Q3
- 12.34
- Median
- 5.72
- Q1
- 2.80
- AZN
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but AMGN is more stretched: AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.64 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Amgen (AMGN) at 4.90 is above its industry benchmark range.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.90
- AMGN
- 4.90
- Max
- 1.56
- Q3
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.14
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.64
- Max
- 1.56
- AZN
- 0.64
- Q3
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.14
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.37 | 0.89 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 4.90 | 0.64 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 2.51 | 1.38 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 2.21% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.96% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.21%
- AMGN
- 2.21%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.96%
- AZN
- 1.96%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 60.87% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 47.41% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
60.87%
- AMGN
- 60.87%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
47.41%
- AZN
- 47.41%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 1.96% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.87% | 47.41% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Amgen (AMGN) at 27.17 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 24.32 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
27.17
- Max
- 83.73
- Q3
- 44.68
- Median
- 28.50
- AMGN
- 27.17
- Q1
- 15.51
- Min
- 0.14
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
24.32
- Max
- 83.73
- Q3
- 44.68
- Median
- 28.50
- AZN
- 24.32
- Q1
- 15.51
- Min
- 0.14
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Amgen (AMGN) at 6.21 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.11 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.21
- Max
- 65.27
- Q3
- 29.50
- Median
- 7.31
- AMGN
- 6.21
- Q1
- 3.49
- Min
- 0.01
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.11
- Max
- 65.27
- Q3
- 29.50
- Median
- 7.31
- AZN
- 4.11
- Q1
- 3.49
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.02 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Amgen (AMGN) at 20.22 prices above its benchmark range — AMGN looks rich relative to book.
AMGN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.22
- AMGN
- 20.22
- Max
- 15.46
- Q3
- 7.32
- Median
- 4.02
- Q1
- 1.90
- Min
- -5.81
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.02
- Max
- 15.46
- Q3
- 7.32
- AZN
- 5.02
- Median
- 4.02
- Q1
- 1.90
- Min
- -5.81
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AMGN | AZN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 27.17 | 24.32 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.21 | 4.11 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 20.22 | 5.02 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 3.66% | 1.94% |