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AZN vs. SNY: AstraZeneca vs. Sanofi Stock Comparison

How do AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY) 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 Sanofi (SNY) 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 Sanofi (SNY) 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 Sanofi (SNY)
Profile ItemAZNSNY
NameAstraZeneca PLC American Depositary SharesSanofi ADR
Country/RegionUnited KingdomFrance
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization289.14 billion USD112.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 12, 1993July 1, 2002
Security TypeADRADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZN
SNY
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY), 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 Sanofi (SNY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
Total Return (1Y)12.64%2.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.75%6.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)10.63%3.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AZN
SNY
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY), 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 Sanofi (SNY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.21%23.60%
Beta (5Y)0.220.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.87%-33.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.14M3.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AZN and SNY 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 Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.30-0.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.44-0.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

AstraZeneca (AZN) at 22.57% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Sanofi (SNY) at 5.72% 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.72%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
SNY
5.72%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.68% and Sanofi (SNY) at 8.20% 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.20%

Max
18.05%
SNY
8.20%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 29.57% and Sanofi (SNY) at 30.89% 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.89%

Max
83.12%
SNY
30.89%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
ROE (TTM)22.57%5.72%
ROA (TTM)8.59%5.31%
Net Margin (TTM)17.68%8.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.57%30.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)81.78%73.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% and Sanofi (SNY) at 5.49% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% and Sanofi (SNY) at 39.43% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.63%5.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.82%4.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)45.33%39.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)45.80%6.02%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.01 and Sanofi (SNY) at 1.12 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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.12

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
SNY
1.12
Min
0.10
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sanofi (SNY) at 0.27 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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.27

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
SNY
0.27
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): 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 Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.011.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.660.27
Net Debt / EBITDA1.230.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) reports payout ratio above 100% at 119.86%, 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

119.86%

SNY
119.86%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.38%119.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 26.37 and Sanofi (SNY) at 23.40 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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.40

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
SNY
23.40
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) at 2.21 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.63 prices around its industry’s middle — SNY 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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.21

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
SNY
2.21
Min
0.01
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sanofi (SNY) at 1.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.59 is valued near its industry’s middle — SNY is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.38

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
SNY
1.38
Min
-5.59
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Sanofi (SNY)
MetricAZNSNY
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.3723.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.632.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.591.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.95%7.17%