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BIIB vs. NVS: Biogen vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

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

Biogen (BIIB) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS)
Profile ItemBIIBNVS
NameBiogen Inc.Novartis AG Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSwitzerland
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization36.71 billion USD307.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateSeptember 17, 1991November 7, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BIIB
NVS
GSPC
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS), 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 Novartis (NVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
Total Return (1Y)65.44%32.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)4.62%24.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-0.96%18.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.58%27.12%
Beta (5Y)0.080.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.35%-20.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.05M2.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BIIB and NVS 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 Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.771.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.771.46

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 24.33% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NVS.

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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.33%

Max
109.18%
NVS
24.33%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.49%

Max
18.05%
NVS
17.49%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) at 34.27% 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.27%

Max
83.12%
NVS
34.27%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
ROE (TTM)1.87%24.33%
ROA (TTM)4.94%10.86%
Net Margin (TTM)3.38%17.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)24.12%34.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.77%75.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% and Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% 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. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Biogen (BIIB) at -21.38% and Novartis (NVS) at 21.81% 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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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.22%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.94%9.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)-21.38%21.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-25.04%31.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 and Novartis (NVS) at 0.88 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.88

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
NVS
0.88
Min
0.10
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.29

Max
1.42
NVS
1.29
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.950.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.411.29
Net Debt / EBITDA1.971.64

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 Novartis (NVS) reports a yield of 2.88%, 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.88%

NVS
2.88%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) reports a payout of 90.46%, 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%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

90.46%

NVS
90.46%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%90.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 31.02 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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.02

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
NVS
31.02
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 and Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.35

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
NVS
5.35
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 carries an above-peer premium to book — NVS is pricier on assets.

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

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.25

Max
13.53
NVS
8.25
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Biogen (BIIB) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Biogen (BIIB) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricBIIBNVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)107.5131.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.575.35
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.948.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.20%3.67%