GILD vs. NVS: Gilead Sciences vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Gilead Sciences (GILD) and Novartis (NVS) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but GILD is classified in Biotechnology while NVS is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Gilead Sciences (GILD) 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

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reports a negative ROE of -22.45%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports 24.33%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Gilead Sciences (GILD) reports a negative net margin of -12.46%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports 17.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 42.43% 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 2.39% 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.

Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 1,684.21% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Novartis (NVS) at 21.81%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 1.38 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 GILD is more stretched: Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 2.02 is above its industry benchmark range.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 1.94% 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 Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 43.46% 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

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Novartis (NVS) trades at 31.02 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Gilead Sciences (GILD) has no P/E ratio this period.

On P/S ratio, both Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 6.68 and Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

Both look rich against book: Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Gilead Sciences (GILD) at 15.88 prices even higher, above its industry range.

Valuation Metrics