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AZN vs. ZTS: AstraZeneca vs. Zoetis Stock Comparison

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

Zoetis (ZTS) 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.

Company profile comparison for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Profile ItemAZNZTS
NameAstraZeneca PLC American Depositary SharesZoetis Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization289.14 billion USD32.26 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateMay 12, 1993February 1, 2013
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZN
ZTS
GSPC
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS), 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 Zoetis (ZTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
Total Return (1Y)12.64%-30.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.75%-20.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)10.63%-16.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)28.21%38.23%
Beta (5Y)0.220.66
Max Drawdown (5Y)-27.87%-70.45%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.14M4.65M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AZN and ZTS 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 Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.30-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.44-1.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 22.57% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 57.63% 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

22.57%

Max
109.18%
AZN
22.57%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

57.63%

Max
109.18%
ZTS
57.63%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 26.41% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and AstraZeneca (AZN) at 17.68% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.41%

ZTS
26.41%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) at 38.19% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

38.19%

Max
83.12%
ZTS
38.19%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
ROE (TTM)22.57%57.63%
ROA (TTM)8.59%14.87%
Net Margin (TTM)17.68%26.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.57%38.19%
Gross Margin (TTM)81.78%71.65%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 8.63% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.28% 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. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.33% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 10.05% 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. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.63%2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.82%5.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)45.33%10.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)45.80%10.27%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.01 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.35 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.35

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
ZTS
2.35
Min
0.10
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but ZTS is more stretched: AstraZeneca (AZN) at 0.66 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.80 is above its industry benchmark range.

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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.80

ZTS
2.80
Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.012.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.662.80
Net Debt / EBITDA1.231.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 1.73% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.55% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.55%

ZTS
2.55%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 45.38% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 35.24% 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

45.38%

AZN
45.38%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.24%

ZTS
35.24%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.73%2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.38%35.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AstraZeneca (AZN) at 26.37 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 13.50 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.50

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
ZTS
13.50
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 4.63 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 3.40 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AZN

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.63

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
AZN
4.63
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.40

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
ZTS
3.40
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AstraZeneca (AZN) at 5.59 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zoetis (ZTS) at 9.80 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZTS is pricier on assets.

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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.80

Max
13.53
ZTS
9.80
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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AstraZeneca (AZN) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AstraZeneca (AZN) and Zoetis (ZTS)
MetricAZNZTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.3713.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.633.40
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.599.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.95%6.36%