BMY vs. NVO: Bristol-Myers Squibb vs. Novo Nordisk Stock Comparison
How do Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Denmark |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 127.02 billion USD | 177.74 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | April 30, 1981 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 38.62% | -5.29% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 12.29% | -23.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 5.09% | -4.13% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 28.01% | 45.98% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.19 | 0.67 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -47.67% | -74.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 10.85M | 12.11M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.23 | -0.21 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.95 | -0.28 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 44.01% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 58.38% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
44.01%
- Max
- 109.18%
- BMY
- 44.01%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
58.38%
- Max
- 109.18%
- NVO
- 58.38%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 18.47% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 33.92% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.47%
- BMY
- 18.47%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.92%
- NVO
- 33.92%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 33.79% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 40.05% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.79%
- Max
- 83.12%
- BMY
- 33.79%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
40.05%
- Max
- 83.12%
- NVO
- 40.05%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 44.01% | 58.38% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.90% | 19.05% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 18.47% | 33.92% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 33.79% | 40.05% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 70.50% | 83.33% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at -0.22% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports EPS growth of 1.77%, ranked against its industry; Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.22% | 6.43% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.45% | 20.43% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | 1.77% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.46% | 23.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 1.59 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.59
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- BMY
- 1.59
- Min
- 0.10
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.85
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- NVO
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 1.91 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.91
- BMY
- 1.91
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.62
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- NVO
- 0.62
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.59 | 0.85 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.91 | 0.62 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.77 | 0.49 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 3.99% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 29.03% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.99%
- BMY
- 3.99%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
29.03%
- NVO
- 29.03%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 55.88% and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 45.36% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
55.88%
- BMY
- 55.88%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
45.36%
- NVO
- 45.36%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.99% | 29.03% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 55.88% | 45.36% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 10.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 13.78 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NVO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.78
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- BMY
- 13.78
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.18
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- NVO
- 10.18
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 2.54 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.54
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- BMY
- 2.54
- Min
- 0.01
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.53
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- NVO
- 0.53
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 5.43 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BMY
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.43
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- BMY
- 5.43
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
NVO
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
5.43
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- NVO
- 5.43
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BMY | NVO |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 13.78 | 10.18 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.54 | 0.53 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.43 | 5.43 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.01% | 18.43% |