AZN vs. MRNA: AstraZeneca vs. Moderna Stock Comparison
How do AstraZeneca (AZN) and Moderna (MRNA) 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
AstraZeneca (AZN) and Moderna (MRNA) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but AZN is classified in Pharmaceuticals while MRNA is classified in Biotechnology.
Moderna (MRNA) trades as ordinary local shares, while AstraZeneca (AZN) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares | Moderna Inc. |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Biotechnology |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Biotechnology |
| Market Capitalization | 289.14 billion USD | 101.48 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 12, 1993 | December 7, 2018 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.64% | 1,031.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.75% | 58.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.63% | 3.23% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.21% | 194.88% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.22 | 1.08 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.87% | -93.93% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.14M | 21.61M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.30 | 5.27 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.44 | 20.44 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative ROE of -39.00%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 22.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
22.57%
- Max
- 109.18%
- AZN
- 22.57%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-39.00%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- MRNA
- -39.00%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 17.68%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
17.68%
- Max
- 18.05%
- AZN
- 17.68%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-141.43%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
- MRNA
- -141.43%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative operating margin of -557.93%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 29.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
29.57%
- Max
- 83.12%
- AZN
- 29.57%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
-557.93%
- Max
- 83.12%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
- MRNA
- -557.93%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.57% | -39.00% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.59% | -13.26% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | -141.43% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 29.57% | -557.93% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 81.78% | -66.02% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: AstraZeneca (AZN) reports EPS growth of 45.33%, ranked against its industry; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.63% | -39.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.82% | -53.30% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 45.33% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 45.80% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.01 and Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.01
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- AZN
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.10
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.30
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- MRNA
- 2.30
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.66 uses more debt funding than most peers.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.66
- Max
- 1.42
- AZN
- 0.66
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.19
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- MRNA
- 0.19
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.01 | 2.30 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.66 | 0.19 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.23 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports a yield of 1.73%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.73%
- AZN
- 1.73%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports a payout of 45.38%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.38%
- AZN
- 45.38%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- MRNA
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.73% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.38% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at 26.37 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Moderna (MRNA) has no P/E ratio this period.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.37
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- AZN
- 26.37
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
--
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
- MRNA
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.63 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 sits in the pricier quartile — MRNA costs more per dollar of sales.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.63
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- AZN
- 4.63
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.55
- Max
- 58.18
- MRNA
- 45.55
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.59 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 carries an above-peer premium to book — MRNA is pricier on assets.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.59
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- AZN
- 5.59
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
MRNA
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.58
- Max
- 13.53
- MRNA
- 11.58
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AZN | MRNA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.37 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.63 | 45.55 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.59 | 11.58 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.95% | 0.29% |