AZN vs. NVS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at AZN 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
AZN dominates in value with a market cap of 432.07 billion USD, eclipsing NVS’s 222.75 billion USD by roughly 1.94×.
NVS carries a higher beta at 0.53, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AZN remains steadier at 0.18.
AZN and NVS are both ADRs—easy access for U.S. investors to foreign shares without dealing with overseas exchanges.
| Symbol | AZN | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AstraZeneca PLC | Novartis AG |
| Country | GB | CH |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| CEO | Mr. Pascal Claude Roland Soriot D.V.M., M.B.A. | Dr. Vasant Narasimhan M.D. |
| Price | 69.68 USD | 112.78 USD |
| Market Cap | 432.07 billion USD | 222.75 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.18 | 0.53 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | May 12, 1993 | November 7, 1996 |
| ADR | Yes | Yes |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of AZN 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
For a detailed comparison of valuation metrics between AZN and NVS, please refer to the table below.
| Symbol | AZN | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 27.80 | 17.13 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.50 | 2.70 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.93 | 3.99 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 5.26 | 5.74 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 22.33 | 13.20 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 13.68 | 10.85 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4.41 | 4.44 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 25.07 | 14.71 |
Dividend Comparison
NVS stands out with a 3.79% dividend yield—around 172% above AZN’s 1.39%—highlighting its emphasis on generous payouts.
| Symbol | AZN | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.39% | 3.79% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of AZN and NVS, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- With current ratios of 0.90 and 0.79, both AZN and NVS have less current assets than short-term liabilities, which could strain their working capital and force reliance on additional financing.
- Both AZN (quick ratio 0.70) and NVS (quick ratio 0.61) fall below 0.8, meaning their most liquid assets—excluding inventory—aren’t enough to meet short-term obligations. This could force them to rely on receivables, inventory turn, or external financing.
| Symbol | AZN | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.90 | 0.79 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.70 | 0.61 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.77 | 0.81 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.30 | 0.31 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.95 | 20.17 |