AZN vs. PFE: AstraZeneca vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison
How do AstraZeneca (AZN) 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
AstraZeneca (AZN) and Pfizer (PFE) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Pfizer (PFE) 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 | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares | Pfizer 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 | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 289.14 billion USD | 167.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 12, 1993 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.64% | 28.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.75% | 6.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.63% | -3.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.21% | 21.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.22 | 0.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.87% | -58.96% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.14M | 33.67M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.30 | 1.12 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.44 | 1.73 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 22.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AZN.
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%
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)
For every dollar of sales, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.68% and Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
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%
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 AstraZeneca (AZN) at 29.57% 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.
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%
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 | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 22.57% | 4.47% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.59% | 5.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.68% | 6.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 29.57% | 33.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 81.78% | 74.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% and Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.63% | -1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.82% | -14.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 45.33% | -3.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 45.80% | -37.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.01 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 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
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)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.66 and Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 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
0.66
- Max
- 1.42
- AZN
- 0.66
- Q3
- 0.65
- 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 | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.01 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.66 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.23 | 1.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.73% and Pfizer (PFE) at 7.30% 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
1.73%
- AZN
- 1.73%
- 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 and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile AstraZeneca (AZN) reports 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%
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 | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.73% | 7.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.38% | 245.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 26.37 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.
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
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 AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.63 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
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)
On P/B ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.59 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
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
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 | AZN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.37 | 41.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.63 | 2.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.59 | 1.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 1.95% | 7.76% |