BIIB vs. PFE: Biogen vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison
How do Biogen (BIIB) and Pfizer (PFE) 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 Pfizer (PFE) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BIIB is classified in Biotechnology while PFE is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Biogen Inc. | Pfizer Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 36.71 billion USD | 167.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 17, 1991 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 65.44% | 28.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 4.62% | 6.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.96% | -3.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 34.58% | 21.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -64.35% | -58.96% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.05M | 33.67M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.77 | 1.12 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.77 | 1.73 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.87% and Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.47%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- PFE
- 4.47%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% 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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.34%
- Max
- 18.05%
- PFE
- 6.34%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 24.12% and Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% 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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.38%
- Max
- 83.12%
- PFE
- 33.38%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 1.87% | 4.47% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.94% | 5.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 3.38% | 6.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.12% | 33.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 75.77% | 74.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Biogen (BIIB) at 2.22% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Biogen (BIIB) at -21.38% and Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 2.22% | -1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -0.94% | -14.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -21.38% | -3.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -25.04% | -37.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.95 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.42
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- PFE
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Biogen (BIIB) at 0.41 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.71
- Max
- 1.42
- PFE
- 0.71
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.95 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.41 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.97 | 1.97 |
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 Pfizer (PFE) reports a yield of 7.30%, 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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.30%
- PFE
- 7.30%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Biogen (BIIB) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
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%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
245.71%
- PFE
- 245.71%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 7.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 245.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
41.99
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- PFE
- 41.99
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Biogen (BIIB) at 3.57 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.63
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- PFE
- 2.63
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Biogen (BIIB) at 1.94 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 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
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.88
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- PFE
- 1.88
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BIIB | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 107.51 | 41.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.57 | 2.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.94 | 1.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.20% | 7.76% |