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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.

Company profile comparison for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
Profile ItemAMGNAZN
NameAmgen Inc. Common StockAstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization249.05 billion USD289.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJune 17, 1983May 12, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AMGN
AZN
GSPC
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN), 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 AstraZeneca (AZN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
Total Return (1Y)48.82%12.64%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.31%15.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)20.67%10.63%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AMGN
AZN
GSPC
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN), 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 AstraZeneca (AZN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)29.12%28.21%
Beta (5Y)0.430.22
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.86%-27.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.76M3.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AMGN and AZN 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 AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.530.30
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.360.44

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 78.35% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 22.57% 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

78.35%

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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.57%

Max
109.18%
AZN
22.57%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Amgen (AMGN) at 24.14% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.68% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.68%

Max
18.05%
AZN
17.68%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) at 29.57% 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%

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

29.57%

Max
83.12%
AZN
29.57%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
ROE (TTM)78.35%22.57%
ROA (TTM)8.91%8.59%
Net Margin (TTM)24.14%17.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)35.79%29.57%
Gross Margin (TTM)72.47%81.78%

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.

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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
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 1.48 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.01 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

1.48

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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.01

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
AZN
1.01
Min
0.10
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but AMGN is more stretched: AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.66 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Amgen (AMGN) at 3.76 is above its industry benchmark range.

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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.66

Max
1.42
AZN
0.66
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): 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 AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.481.01
Debt / Equity (MRQ)3.760.66
Net Debt / EBITDA2.311.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 2.16% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.73% 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

2.16%

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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.73%

AZN
1.73%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 57.62% and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.38% 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

57.62%

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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

45.38%

AZN
45.38%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.16%1.73%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)57.62%45.38%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 26.69 and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 26.37 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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.37

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
AZN
26.37
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): 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 AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.63 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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.63

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
AZN
4.63
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Amgen (AMGN) vs. AstraZeneca (AZN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.59 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Amgen (AMGN) at 17.35 prices above its benchmark range — AMGN looks rich relative to book.

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

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.59

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Amgen (AMGN) and AstraZeneca (AZN)
MetricAMGNAZN
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.6926.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.404.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)17.355.59
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.96%1.95%