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BIIB vs. GSK: Biogen vs. GSK Stock Comparison

How do Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK) 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

Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BIIB is classified in Biotechnology while GSK is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Biogen (BIIB) trades as ordinary local shares, while GSK (GSK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
Profile ItemBIIBGSK
NameBiogen Inc.GSK plc ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited Kingdom
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization36.71 billion USD100.88 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateSeptember 17, 1991March 28, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BIIB
GSK
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK), 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 Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
Total Return (1Y)65.44%13.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.62%18.65%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-0.96%7.97%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BIIB
GSK
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK), 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 Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.58%26.25%
Beta (5Y)0.080.31
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.35%-37.63%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.05M4.05M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BIIB and GSK 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 Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.770.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.770.56

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

GSK (GSK) at 28.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for GSK.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.87%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
BIIB
1.87%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

28.27%

Max
109.18%
GSK
28.27%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

GSK (GSK) at 12.97% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Biogen (BIIB) at 3.38%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.38%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
BIIB
3.38%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

12.97%

Max
18.05%
GSK
12.97%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 24.12% and GSK (GSK) at 32.14% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.12%

Max
83.12%
BIIB
24.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

32.14%

Max
83.12%
GSK
32.14%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
ROE (TTM)1.87%28.27%
ROA (TTM)4.94%9.24%
Net Margin (TTM)3.38%12.97%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.12%32.14%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.77%73.79%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% and GSK (GSK) at 4.11% 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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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

GSK (GSK) at 123.15% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Biogen (BIIB) at -21.38% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GSK.

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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.22%4.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.94%3.66%
EPS Growth (YoY)-21.38%123.15%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-25.04%-27.63%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 and GSK (GSK) at 0.86 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.95

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
BIIB
1.95
Min
0.10

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.86

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
GSK
0.86
Min
0.10
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Biogen (BIIB) at 0.41 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while GSK (GSK) at 1.30 uses more debt funding than most peers.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.41

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
BIIB
0.41
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.30

Max
1.42
GSK
1.30
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.950.86
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.411.30
Net Debt / EBITDA1.971.88

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Biogen (BIIB) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile GSK (GSK) reports a yield of 1.57%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

BIIB
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.57%

GSK
1.57%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Biogen (BIIB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile GSK (GSK) reports a payout of 63.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

BIIB
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

63.33%

GSK
63.33%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%1.57%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%63.33%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

GSK (GSK) at 17.54 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Biogen (BIIB) at 107.51 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for BIIB’s trailing earnings.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

107.51

BIIB
107.51
Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.54

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
GSK
17.54
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

GSK (GSK) at 3.01 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 prices around its industry’s middle — GSK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.57

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
BIIB
3.57
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.01

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 and GSK (GSK) at 4.02 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

BIIB

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.94

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
BIIB
1.94
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

GSK

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.02

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
GSK
4.02
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. GSK (GSK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and GSK (GSK)
MetricBIIBGSK
P/E Ratio (TTM)107.5117.54
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.573.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.944.02
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.20%5.28%