ARGX vs. NVS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ARGX and NVS, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
NVS stands out with 222.75 billion USD in market value—about 6.24× ARGX’s market cap of 35.72 billion USD.
NVS carries a higher beta at 0.53, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ARGX remains steadier at 0.17.
ARGX and NVS are both ADRs—easy access for U.S. investors to foreign shares without dealing with overseas exchanges.
| Symbol | ARGX | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | argenx SE | Novartis AG |
| Country | NL | CH |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Biotechnology | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| CEO | Mr. Timothy Van Hauwermeiren EMBA, M.Sc. | Dr. Vasant Narasimhan M.D. |
| Price | 584.95 USD | 112.78 USD |
| Market Cap | 35.72 billion USD | 222.75 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.17 | 0.53 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | May 18, 2017 | November 7, 1996 |
| ADR | Yes | Yes |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ARGX and NVS over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ARGX and NVS based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- ARGX has a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow ratio of -455.95, signaling it consumed more cash than it produced over the last year—an important liquidity warning. In contrast, NVS (P/FCF 13.20) indicates positive free cash flow generation.
| Symbol | ARGX | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 51.08 | 17.13 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 1.35 | 2.70 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 16.50 | 3.99 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 7.75 | 5.74 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -455.95 | 13.20 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 4572.56 | 10.85 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 15.84 | 4.44 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | -437.78 | 14.71 |
Dividend Comparison
ARGX offers a 0% dividend yield, suggesting it may be reinvesting available cash back into the business for future growth, while NVS provides a 3.79% dividend yield, giving investors a steady income stream.
| Symbol | ARGX | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 3.79% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ARGX and NVS, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- NVS’s current ratio of 0.79 indicates its assets may not cover near-term debts, whereas ARGX at 7.29 maintains healthy liquidity.
- NVS posts a quick ratio of 0.61, indicating limited coverage of short-term debts from its most liquid assets—while ARGX at 6.68 enjoys stronger liquidity resilience.
- With negative EBIT (-20.85), ARGX cannot cover its interest payments. NVS, with an interest coverage of 20.17, meets its interest obligations.
| Symbol | ARGX | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 7.29 | 0.79 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 6.68 | 0.61 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.81 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.31 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -20.85 | 20.17 |