BIIB vs. WST: Biogen vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison
This page compares Biogen (BIIB) with West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 51.20% | 46.68% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 33.53% | 41.40% |
| Beta | 0.17 | 1.17 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.16M | 852.79K |
Company Profile
Biogen (BIIB) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but BIIB is classified in Biotechnology while WST is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
| Profile Item | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Biogen Inc. | West Pharmaceutical Services, 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 | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 29.53 billion USD | 23.23 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | September 17, 1991 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Biogen (BIIB) at 21.51 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.08 sits in the richer quartile — WST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.51
- Max
- 77.14
- Q3
- 43.78
- Median
- 24.68
- BIIB
- 21.51
- Q1
- 15.27
- Min
- 1.70
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
44.08
- Max
- 77.14
- WST
- 44.08
- Q3
- 43.78
- Median
- 24.68
- Q1
- 15.27
- Min
- 1.70
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Biogen (BIIB) at 2.97 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 7.21 prices around its industry’s middle — BIIB costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.97
- Max
- 55.38
- Q3
- 24.42
- Median
- 6.98
- Q1
- 3.30
- BIIB
- 2.97
- Min
- 0.01
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.21
- Max
- 55.38
- Q3
- 24.42
- WST
- 7.21
- Median
- 6.98
- Q1
- 3.30
- Min
- 0.01
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Biogen (BIIB) at 1.58 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 7.80 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.58
- Max
- 13.23
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 1.64
- BIIB
- 1.58
- Min
- -5.17
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.80
- Max
- 13.23
- WST
- 7.80
- Q3
- 6.38
- Median
- 3.46
- Q1
- 1.64
- Min
- -5.17
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 21.51 | 44.08 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 2.97 | 7.21 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.58 | 7.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 6.54% | 1.19% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 7.70% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 19.13% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.70%
- Max
- 101.32%
- BIIB
- 7.70%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- -31.26%
- Q1
- -62.68%
- Min
- -158.89%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
19.13%
- Max
- 101.32%
- WST
- 19.13%
- Q3
- 2.92%
- Median
- -31.26%
- Q1
- -62.68%
- Min
- -158.89%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 13.81% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 16.85% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.81%
- BIIB
- 13.81%
- Max
- 12.76%
- Q3
- 4.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.26%
- Min
- -11.53%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
16.85%
- WST
- 16.85%
- Max
- 12.76%
- Q3
- 4.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -2.26%
- Min
- -11.53%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 22.90% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 21.70% 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
22.90%
- Max
- 100.30%
- BIIB
- 22.90%
- Q3
- 4.40%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -131.52%
- Min
- -333.43%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
21.70%
- Max
- 100.30%
- WST
- 21.70%
- Q3
- 4.40%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -131.52%
- Min
- -333.43%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 7.70% | 19.13% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 5.95% | 11.21% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.81% | 16.85% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 22.90% | 21.70% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 78.72% | 36.28% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 2.22% | 6.25% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | -0.94% | 2.12% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -21.38% | 1.49% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -25.04% | -4.23% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 3.07 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 2.71 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.07
- Max
- 24.81
- Q3
- 11.75
- Median
- 5.57
- BIIB
- 3.07
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- 0.23
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.71
- Max
- 24.81
- Q3
- 11.75
- Median
- 5.57
- WST
- 2.71
- Q1
- 2.69
- Min
- 0.23
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both Biogen (BIIB) at 0.35 and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
BIIB
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.35
- Max
- 1.60
- Q3
- 0.68
- BIIB
- 0.35
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.11
- Max
- 1.60
- Q3
- 0.68
- Median
- 0.15
- WST
- 0.11
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.07 | 2.71 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.35 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.64 | -0.23 |
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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a yield of 0.27%, 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%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.27%
- WST
- 0.27%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
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 West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports a payout of 11.50%, 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%
WST
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
11.50%
- WST
- 11.50%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | BIIB | WST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.27% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 11.50% |