ASND vs. PFE: Ascendis Pharma vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison
How do Ascendis Pharma (ASND) and Pfizer (PFE) 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
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) and Pfizer (PFE) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ASND is classified in Biotechnology while PFE is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Ascendis Pharma A/S | Pfizer Inc. |
| Country/Region | Denmark | United States |
| 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 | 16.90 billion USD | 167.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 28, 2015 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 29.46% | 28.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.62% | 6.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.03% | -3.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Pfizer (PFE) is heavily traded at around 33.67M shares per day, whereas Ascendis Pharma (ASND) sees a more moderate 698.39K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 38.62% | 21.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.38 | 0.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.93% | -58.96% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 698.39K | 33.67M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | 1.12 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.99 | 1.73 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 118.78% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
118.78%
- ASND
- 118.78%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.47%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- PFE
- 4.47%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 70.85% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% also retains a top-quartile share.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
70.85%
- ASND
- 70.85%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.34%
- Max
- 18.05%
- PFE
- 6.34%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 64.98% and Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
64.98%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ASND
- 64.98%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.38%
- Max
- 83.12%
- PFE
- 33.38%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 118.78% | 4.47% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.58% | 5.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 70.85% | 6.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 64.98% | 33.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 91.30% | 74.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 98.03% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Pfizer (PFE) reports EPS growth of -3.55%, ranked against its industry; Ascendis Pharma (ASND) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 98.03% | -1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 141.43% | -14.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -3.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -37.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 2.99 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PFE.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.99
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- ASND
- 2.99
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.42
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- PFE
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 0.31 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 uses more debt funding than most peers.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.31
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- ASND
- 0.31
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.71
- Max
- 1.42
- PFE
- 0.71
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.99 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.31 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -1.37 | 1.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Ascendis Pharma (ASND) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Pfizer (PFE) reports a yield of 7.30%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ASND
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.30%
- PFE
- 7.30%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Ascendis Pharma (ASND) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ASND
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
245.71%
- PFE
- 245.71%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 7.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 245.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 19.68 and Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
19.68
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- ASND
- 19.68
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
41.99
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- PFE
- 41.99
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 16.14 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
16.14
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- ASND
- 16.14
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.63
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- PFE
- 2.63
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Ascendis Pharma (ASND) at 10.45 carries an above-peer premium to book — ASND is pricier on assets.
ASND
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.45
- Max
- 13.53
- ASND
- 10.45
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.88
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- PFE
- 1.88
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ASND | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.68 | 41.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 16.14 | 2.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.45 | 1.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.08% | 7.76% |