GSK vs. ZTS: GSK vs. Zoetis Stock Comparison
How do GSK (GSK) and Zoetis (ZTS) 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
GSK (GSK) and Zoetis (ZTS) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Zoetis (ZTS) trades as ordinary local shares, while GSK (GSK) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | GSK plc ADR | Zoetis Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United Kingdom | United States |
| 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 | 100.88 billion USD | 32.26 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 28, 1980 | February 1, 2013 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 13.73% | -30.10% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.65% | -20.42% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 7.97% | -16.87% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.25% | 38.23% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.31 | 0.66 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.63% | -70.45% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.05M | 4.65M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.36 | -0.90 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.56 | -1.10 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both GSK (GSK) at 28.27% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 57.63% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
28.27%
- Max
- 109.18%
- GSK
- 28.27%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
57.63%
- Max
- 109.18%
- ZTS
- 57.63%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Zoetis (ZTS) at 26.41% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and GSK (GSK) at 12.97% also retains a top-quartile share.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
12.97%
- Max
- 18.05%
- GSK
- 12.97%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
26.41%
- ZTS
- 26.41%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both GSK (GSK) at 32.14% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 38.19% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
32.14%
- Max
- 83.12%
- GSK
- 32.14%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
38.19%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ZTS
- 38.19%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 28.27% | 57.63% |
| ROA (TTM) | 9.24% | 14.87% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.97% | 26.41% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.14% | 38.19% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 73.79% | 71.65% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both GSK (GSK) at 4.11% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.28% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
GSK (GSK) at 123.15% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Zoetis (ZTS) at 10.05% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for GSK.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.11% | 2.28% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.66% | 5.42% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 123.15% | 10.05% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -27.63% | 10.27% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both GSK (GSK) at 0.86 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.35 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.86
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- GSK
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.10
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.35
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- ZTS
- 2.35
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but ZTS is more stretched: GSK (GSK) at 1.30 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.80 is above its industry benchmark range.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.30
- Max
- 1.42
- GSK
- 1.30
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.80
- ZTS
- 2.80
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.86 | 2.35 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.30 | 2.80 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.88 | 1.92 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both GSK (GSK) at 1.57% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.55% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.57%
- GSK
- 1.57%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.55%
- ZTS
- 2.55%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both GSK (GSK) at 63.33% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 35.24% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
63.33%
- GSK
- 63.33%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
35.24%
- ZTS
- 35.24%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.57% | 2.55% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 63.33% | 35.24% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both GSK (GSK) at 17.54 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 13.50 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
17.54
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- GSK
- 17.54
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
13.50
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- Median
- 26.69
- ZTS
- 13.50
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
GSK (GSK) at 3.01 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Zoetis (ZTS) at 3.40 prices around its industry’s middle — GSK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.01
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- GSK
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
3.40
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- ZTS
- 3.40
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
GSK (GSK) at 4.02 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zoetis (ZTS) at 9.80 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZTS is pricier on assets.
GSK
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.02
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- GSK
- 4.02
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
ZTS
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
9.80
- Max
- 13.53
- ZTS
- 9.80
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | GSK | ZTS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.54 | 13.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.01 | 3.40 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.02 | 9.80 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 5.28% | 6.36% |