AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. GSK (GSK)

Company Profile

AstraZeneca (AZN) and GSK (GSK) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Both AstraZeneca (AZN, ADR) and GSK (GSK, ADR) trade as depositary receipts or similar foreign-share lines; core company financials may still be comparable, but trading line, FX, program fees, dividend withholding, and home-market rules are worth keeping in view.

Valuation

GSK (GSK) at 13.27 trades in the lower-multiple quartile for Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 27.92 sits around the industry midpoint — GSK has a lower trailing earnings multiple relative to peers, though the gap should be read alongside growth and earnings quality.

GSK (GSK) at 3.09 sits in the cheaper Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) quartile while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.76 prices around its industry’s middle — GSK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

On Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 6.08 and GSK (GSK) at 4.23 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

Valuation at a Glance

Profitability

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.48% and GSK (GSK) at 40.91% rank in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM) among industry peers, indicating strong returns on shareholders’ equity.

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.19% and GSK (GSK) at 17.78% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each Net Profit Margin (TTM) clears its industry’s benchmark range.

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 27.94% and GSK (GSK) at 36.28% squeeze more operating profit from each sales dollar than most peers, ranking in the top Operating Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.

Profitability at a Glance

Growth

Revenue Growth

Revenue Growth at a Glance

EPS Growth

EPS Growth at a Glance

Financial Strength

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.91 and GSK (GSK) at 0.79 run Current Ratio (MRQ) in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.72 and GSK (GSK) at 1.10 run Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the higher-leverage quartile of industry peers, indicating more debt relative to equity than typical competitors.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Dividends

GSK (GSK) at 3.57% reports Dividend Yield (TTM) in the top quartile of industry peers, ahead of AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.70%, which sits around the industry mid-range.

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 47.70% and GSK (GSK) at 46.54% post Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) outside their industries’ typical mid-range — either leaning toward more retention or more distribution than the industry median.

Dividends at a Glance

Performance & Risk

Performance & Risk at a Glance