AZN vs. TMO: AstraZeneca vs. Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Comparison
How do AstraZeneca (AZN) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but AZN is classified in Pharmaceuticals while TMO is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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 | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AstraZeneca PLC American Depositary Shares | Thermo Fisher Scientific 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 | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 242.64 billion USD | 217.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 12, 1993 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 0.73% | 21.73% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 5.20% | 3.20% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 8.07% | 1.84% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.07% | 30.43% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.24 | 0.84 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -27.87% | -40.95% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.81M | 2.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.12 | 0.58 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.17 | 0.93 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 21.97% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 13.52% 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
21.97%
- Max
- 100.28%
- AZN
- 21.97%
- Q3
- 3.43%
- Median
- -33.05%
- Q1
- -62.24%
- Min
- -157.61%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.52%
- Max
- 100.28%
- TMO
- 13.52%
- Q3
- 3.43%
- Median
- -33.05%
- Q1
- -62.24%
- Min
- -157.61%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.02% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 15.04% 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
17.02%
- AZN
- 17.02%
- Max
- 13.44%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -14.36%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
15.04%
- TMO
- 15.04%
- Max
- 13.44%
- Q3
- 3.18%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -14.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.46% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 18.75% 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
23.46%
- Max
- 76.04%
- AZN
- 23.46%
- Q3
- 10.89%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -122.64%
- Min
- -308.66%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.75%
- Max
- 76.04%
- TMO
- 18.75%
- Q3
- 10.89%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -122.64%
- Min
- -308.66%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.97% | 13.52% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.02% | 5.13% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 17.02% | 15.04% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 23.46% | 18.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 81.69% | 40.99% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 3.91% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 7.32% 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 | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 8.63% | 3.91% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.82% | -0.27% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 45.33% | 7.32% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 45.80% | 0.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.89 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 1.55 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
0.89
- Max
- 26.78
- Q3
- 12.43
- Median
- 5.72
- Q1
- 2.77
- AZN
- 0.89
- Min
- 0.10
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.55
- Max
- 26.78
- Q3
- 12.43
- Median
- 5.72
- Q1
- 2.77
- TMO
- 1.55
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.64 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.81 uses more debt funding than most peers.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.64
- Max
- 1.48
- Q3
- 0.64
- AZN
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.14
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.81
- Max
- 1.48
- TMO
- 0.81
- Q3
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.14
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.89 | 1.55 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.64 | 0.81 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.38 | 3.28 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 2.05% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.30% 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
2.05%
- AZN
- 2.05%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.30%
- TMO
- 0.30%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 47.41% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 9.69% 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
47.41%
- AZN
- 47.41%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.69%
- TMO
- 9.69%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.05% | 0.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 47.41% | 9.69% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 23.42 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 31.65 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
23.42
- Max
- 77.53
- Q3
- 41.75
- Median
- 27.59
- AZN
- 23.42
- Q1
- 15.21
- Min
- 0.13
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
31.65
- Max
- 77.53
- Q3
- 41.75
- TMO
- 31.65
- Median
- 27.59
- Q1
- 15.21
- Min
- 0.13
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 3.95 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 4.69 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.95
- Max
- 73.14
- Q3
- 31.51
- Median
- 7.39
- AZN
- 3.95
- Q1
- 3.47
- Min
- 0.01
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.69
- Max
- 73.14
- Q3
- 31.51
- Median
- 7.39
- TMO
- 4.69
- Q1
- 3.47
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 4.82 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 4.13 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
AZN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.82
- Max
- 15.18
- Q3
- 7.45
- AZN
- 4.82
- Median
- 3.92
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- -5.47
TMO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.13
- Max
- 15.18
- Q3
- 7.45
- TMO
- 4.13
- Median
- 3.92
- Q1
- 1.79
- Min
- -5.47
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AZN | TMO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.42 | 31.65 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.95 | 4.69 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.82 | 4.13 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.02% | 2.87% |