ILMN vs. PFE: Illumina vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison
How do Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE) 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
Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but ILMN is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while PFE is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Illumina Inc. | Pfizer 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 | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Life Sciences Tools & Services | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 32.23 billion USD | 167.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | July 28, 2000 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 79.70% | 28.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 28.16% | 6.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -10.65% | -3.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Illumina (ILMN) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Pfizer (PFE) is defensive at 0.35 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.47% | 21.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.46 | 0.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -82.95% | -58.96% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.77M | 33.67M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.56 | 1.12 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.25 | 1.73 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Illumina (ILMN) at 32.39% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ILMN.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
32.39%
- Max
- 109.18%
- ILMN
- 32.39%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.47%
- Max
- 109.18%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- PFE
- 4.47%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Illumina (ILMN) at 19.72% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% also retains a top-quartile share.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
19.72%
- ILMN
- 19.72%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
6.34%
- Max
- 18.05%
- PFE
- 6.34%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Illumina (ILMN) at 20.02% and Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
20.02%
- Max
- 83.12%
- ILMN
- 20.02%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
33.38%
- Max
- 83.12%
- PFE
- 33.38%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 32.39% | 4.47% |
| ROA (TTM) | 8.32% | 5.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 19.72% | 6.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 20.02% | 33.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 67.68% | 74.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Illumina (ILMN) at -0.66% and Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Pfizer (PFE) reports EPS growth of -3.55%, ranked against its industry; Illumina (ILMN) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -0.66% | -1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.78% | -14.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -3.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -37.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Illumina (ILMN) at 2.63 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PFE.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.63
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- ILMN
- 2.63
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.42
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- Q1
- 2.47
- PFE
- 1.42
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Illumina (ILMN) at 0.74 and Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.74
- Max
- 1.42
- ILMN
- 0.74
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.71
- Max
- 1.42
- PFE
- 0.71
- Q3
- 0.65
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.63 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.74 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.85 | 1.97 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Illumina (ILMN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Pfizer (PFE) reports a yield of 7.30%, ranking against industry peers normally.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ILMN
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.30%
- PFE
- 7.30%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Illumina (ILMN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.00%
- ILMN
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
245.71%
- PFE
- 245.71%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 7.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 245.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Illumina (ILMN) at 36.68 and Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
36.68
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- ILMN
- 36.68
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
41.99
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- PFE
- 41.99
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Illumina (ILMN) at 7.10 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
7.10
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- ILMN
- 7.10
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.63
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- Q1
- 3.01
- PFE
- 2.63
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Illumina (ILMN) at 10.30 carries an above-peer premium to book — ILMN is pricier on assets.
ILMN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.30
- Max
- 13.53
- ILMN
- 10.30
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
PFE
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
1.88
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- PFE
- 1.88
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ILMN | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 36.68 | 41.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 7.10 | 2.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 10.30 | 1.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.67% | 7.76% |