ASML vs. NVS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 23, 2025

Here’s a clear look at ASML and NVS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Both ASML and NVS offer U.S. investors access to foreign companies, with ASML trading as New York Registered Shares and NVS as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR).

Symbol	ASML	NVS
Company Name	ASML Holding N.V.	Novartis AG
Country	Netherlands	Switzerland
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Health Care
GICS Industry	Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment	Pharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization	296.29 billion USD	246.34 billion USD
Exchange	NasdaqGS	NYSE
Listing Date	March 15, 1995	November 7, 1996
Security Type	NY Reg Shrs	ADR

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of ASML and NVS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

ASML vs. NVS: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	ASML	NVS
5-Day Price Return	0.27%	3.47%
13-Week Price Return	-3.37%	11.69%
26-Week Price Return	-12.28%	4.09%
52-Week Price Return	-21.56%	9.24%
Month-to-Date Return	4.76%	7.12%
Year-to-Date Return	-5.36%	13.75%
10-Day Avg. Volume	0.45M	2.89M
3-Month Avg. Volume	0.68M	3.36M
3-Month Volatility	35.08%	17.00%
Beta	1.70	0.08

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

ASML

47.13%

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 52.74%
Q3: 23.49%
Median: 11.60%
Q1: 3.23%
Min: -20.69%

In the upper quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, ASML’s Return on Equity of 47.13% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

NVS

32.56%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 38.59%
Q3: 19.84%
Median: 11.90%
Q1: 5.63%
Min: -9.96%

In the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, NVS’s Return on Equity of 32.56% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

ASML

29.31%

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 44.17%
Q3: 22.38%
Median: 11.95%
Q1: 3.21%
Min: -25.16%

A Net Profit Margin of 29.31% places ASML in the upper quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

NVS

24.90%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 34.51%
Q3: 17.73%
Median: 12.12%
Q1: 5.99%
Min: -7.73%

A Net Profit Margin of 24.90% places NVS in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

ASML

34.90%

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 58.03%
Q3: 27.84%
Median: 12.45%
Q1: 5.15%
Min: -28.61%

An Operating Profit Margin of 34.90% places ASML in the upper quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

NVS

30.03%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 41.53%
Q3: 23.00%
Median: 16.24%
Q1: 9.24%
Min: -6.94%

An Operating Profit Margin of 30.03% places NVS in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	ASML	NVS
Return on Equity (TTM)	47.13%	32.56%
Return on Assets (TTM)	19.27%	13.32%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	29.31%	24.90%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	34.90%	30.03%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	52.58%	76.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

ASML

1.41

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 8.42
Q3: 4.70
Median: 2.75
Q1: 2.07
Min: 1.04

ASML’s Current Ratio of 1.41 falls into the lower quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

NVS

0.82

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 4.49
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.74
Q1: 1.26
Min: 0.11

NVS’s Current Ratio of 0.82 falls into the lower quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

ASML

0.22

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 1.09
Q3: 0.45
Median: 0.22
Q1: 0.01
Min: 0.00

ASML’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.22 is typical for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

NVS

0.77

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 2.44
Q3: 1.07
Median: 0.42
Q1: 0.11
Min: 0.00

NVS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.77 is typical for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

ASML

164.15

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 174.00
Q3: 81.10
Median: 27.22
Q1: 7.28
Min: -4.26

ASML’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 164.15 is in the upper quartile for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

NVS

22.55

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 103.95
Q3: 44.18
Median: 9.83
Q1: 2.82
Min: -42.71

NVS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 22.55 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	ASML	NVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.41	0.82
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.79	0.62
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.22	0.77
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	164.15	22.55

Growth

Revenue Growth

ASML vs. NVS: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

ASML vs. NVS: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

ASML

1.01%

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 4.16%
Q3: 1.78%
Median: 0.74%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ASML’s Dividend Yield of 1.01% is consistent with its peers in the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

NVS

3.29%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 6.98%
Q3: 3.32%
Median: 2.13%
Q1: 0.14%
Min: 0.00%

NVS’s Dividend Yield of 3.29% is consistent with its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

ASML

26.57%

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 196.12%
Q3: 87.72%
Median: 26.57%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

ASML’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 26.57% is within the typical range for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

NVS

102.24%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 165.20%
Q3: 90.59%
Median: 49.13%
Q1: 28.91%
Min: 0.00%

NVS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 102.24% is in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	ASML	NVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.01%	3.29%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	26.57%	102.24%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

ASML

26.41

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 109.37
Q3: 57.11
Median: 28.95
Q1: 22.13
Min: 11.14

ASML’s P/E Ratio of 26.41 is within the middle range for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

NVS

17.43

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 42.51
Q3: 26.88
Median: 19.11
Q1: 15.12
Min: 0.00

NVS’s P/E Ratio of 17.43 is within the middle range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

ASML

7.74

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 16.09
Q3: 10.10
Median: 4.82
Q1: 2.60
Min: 0.93

ASML’s P/S Ratio of 7.74 aligns with the market consensus for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

NVS

4.34

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 7.55
Q3: 4.54
Median: 2.11
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

NVS’s P/S Ratio of 4.34 aligns with the market consensus for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

ASML

12.39

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment Industry

Max: 13.56
Q3: 6.75
Median: 3.68
Q1: 1.89
Min: 0.60

ASML’s P/B Ratio of 12.39 is in the upper tier for the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

NVS

6.00

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max: 9.78
Q3: 4.96
Median: 2.23
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.60

NVS’s P/B Ratio of 6.00 is in the upper tier for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

ASML vs. NVS: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment and Pharmaceuticals industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	ASML	NVS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	26.41	17.43
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	7.74	4.34
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	12.39	6.00
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	26.67	14.16