BMY vs. NVS: Bristol-Myers Squibb vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 44.01% and Novartis (NVS) at 24.33% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 18.47% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% also retains a top-quartile share.

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 33.79% 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.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at -0.22% 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.

Only one side can be read here: Novartis (NVS) reports EPS growth of 21.81%, ranked against its industry; Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) has no EPS growth figure this period.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 1.59 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.

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but BMY is more stretched: Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 1.91 is above its industry benchmark range.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 3.99% and Novartis (NVS) at 2.88% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 55.88% and Novartis (NVS) at 90.46% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Both Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 13.78 and Novartis (NVS) at 31.02 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 2.54 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 prices around its industry’s middle — BMY costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) at 5.43 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.

Valuation Metrics