AMGN vs. NVS: Amgen vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Amgen (AMGN) and Novartis (NVS) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but AMGN is classified in Biotechnology while NVS is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Amgen (AMGN) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novartis (NVS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 78.35% and Novartis (NVS) at 24.33% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

Amgen (AMGN) at 24.14% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% also retains a top-quartile share.

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 35.79% and Novartis (NVS) at 34.27% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 9.95% and Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Amgen (AMGN) at 88.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Novartis (NVS) at 21.81% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for AMGN.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 1.48 and Novartis (NVS) at 0.88 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but AMGN is more stretched: Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Amgen (AMGN) at 3.76 is above its industry benchmark range.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 2.16% and Novartis (NVS) at 2.88% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 57.62% and Novartis (NVS) at 90.46% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both Amgen (AMGN) at 26.69 and Novartis (NVS) at 31.02 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

On P/S ratio, both Amgen (AMGN) at 6.40 and Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

Both look rich against book: Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Amgen (AMGN) at 17.35 prices even higher, above its industry range.

Valuation Metrics