AZN vs. VRTX: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Company Overview

AZN dominates in value with a market cap of 432.07 billion USD, eclipsing VRTX’s 111.45 billion USD by roughly 3.88×.

VRTX carries a higher beta at 0.51, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AZN remains steadier at 0.18.

AZN trades as an ADR, giving U.S. investors a simple on-ramp to its foreign shares, while VRTX remains a standard domestic listing.

Performance Comparison

This chart compares the performance of AZN and VRTX 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

The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of AZN and VRTX based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.

• VRTX shows a negative P/E of -112.75, highlighting a year of losses, whereas AZN at 27.76 trades on solid profitability.
• VRTX shows a negative forward PEG of -9.06, signaling expected earnings contraction, while AZN at 2.49 maintains analysts’ projections for stable or improved profits.
• VRTX reports a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow ratio of -88.59, showing a cash flow shortfall that could threaten its operational sustainability, while AZN at 22.30 maintains positive cash flow.

Dividend Comparison

AZN delivers a 1.39% dividend yield, blending income with growth, whereas VRTX appears to retain its profits, possibly to fund operations, R&D, or other growth initiatives.

Financial Strength Metrics Comparison

This section dives into the financial resilience of AZN and VRTX, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.

• AZN’s current ratio of 0.90 signals a possible liquidity squeeze, while VRTX at 2.65 comfortably covers its short-term obligations.
• AZN’s quick ratio of 0.70 suggests it may struggle to cover immediate liabilities without selling inventory or raising cash, whereas VRTX at 2.29 maintains a comfortable buffer of liquid assets.
• AZN meets its interest obligations (ratio 7.95). In stark contrast, VRTX’s negative ratio (-32.00) means its operating earnings (EBIT) don't cover basic operations, let alone interest, signaling serious financial trouble.