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AZN vs. NVS: AstraZeneca vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

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

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Company profile comparison for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
Profile ItemAZNNVS
NameAstraZeneca PLC American Depositary SharesNovartis AG Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited KingdomSwitzerland
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization262.83 billion USD293.94 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 12, 1993November 7, 1996
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZN
NVS
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
Total Return (1Y)21.21%28.29%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.92%20.96%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.21%14.90%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AZN
NVS
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.88%21.63%
Beta (5Y)0.260.46
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.87%-20.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.14M1.71M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AZN and NVS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.621.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.981.70

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.48% and Novartis (NVS) at 34.93% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.48%

Max
99.40%
AZN
23.48%
Q3
2.50%
Median
-32.34%
Q1
-62.68%
Min
-158.89%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.93%

Max
99.40%
NVS
34.93%
Q3
2.50%
Median
-32.34%
Q1
-62.68%
Min
-158.89%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.19% and Novartis (NVS) at 23.92% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.19%

AZN
17.19%
Max
9.98%
Q3
2.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-2.26%
Min
-9.05%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.92%

NVS
23.92%
Max
9.98%
Q3
2.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-2.26%
Min
-9.05%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 27.94% and Novartis (NVS) at 30.48% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

27.94%

Max
100.30%
AZN
27.94%
Q3
4.40%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-131.52%
Min
-332.88%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.48%

Max
100.30%
NVS
30.48%
Q3
4.40%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-131.52%
Min
-332.88%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
ROE (TTM)23.48%34.93%
ROA (TTM)8.49%10.54%
Net Margin (TTM)17.19%23.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)27.94%30.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)81.51%75.55%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.63%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.82%9.25%

EPS Growth

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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
EPS Growth (YoY)45.33%21.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)45.80%31.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.91 and Novartis (NVS) at 0.85 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

0.91

Max
26.16
Q3
12.33
Median
5.81
Q1
2.71
AZN
0.91
Min
0.23

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.85

Max
26.16
Q3
12.33
Median
5.81
Q1
2.71
NVS
0.85
Min
0.23
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.72 and Novartis (NVS) at 1.21 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.72

Max
1.60
AZN
0.72
Q3
0.68
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.21

Max
1.60
NVS
1.21
Q3
0.68
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.910.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.721.21
Net Debt / EBITDA1.321.75

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.86% and Novartis (NVS) at 3.02% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.86%

AZN
1.86%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.02%

NVS
3.02%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 47.70% and Novartis (NVS) at 67.91% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

47.70%

AZN
47.70%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

67.91%

NVS
67.91%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.86%3.02%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)47.70%67.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 25.83 and Novartis (NVS) at 22.07 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.83

Max
78.47
Q3
47.85
AZN
25.83
Median
25.59
Q1
15.75
Min
2.21

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

22.07

Max
78.47
Q3
47.85
Median
25.59
NVS
22.07
Q1
15.75
Min
2.21
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.35 and Novartis (NVS) at 5.20 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.35

Max
61.00
Q3
27.53
Median
7.98
AZN
4.35
Q1
3.53
Min
0.01

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.20

Max
61.00
Q3
27.53
Median
7.98
NVS
5.20
Q1
3.53
Min
0.01
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.55 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Novartis (NVS) at 7.63 carries an above-peer premium to book — NVS is pricier on assets.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.55

Max
14.51
Q3
7.18
AZN
5.55
Median
3.79
Q1
1.69
Min
-6.49

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.63

Max
14.51
NVS
7.63
Q3
7.18
Median
3.79
Q1
1.69
Min
-6.49
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricAZNNVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.8322.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.355.20
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.557.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.50%4.09%