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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.

Company profile comparison for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
Profile ItemILMNPFE
NameIllumina Inc.Pfizer Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryLife Sciences Tools & ServicesPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization32.23 billion USD167.52 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJuly 28, 2000June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ILMN
PFE
GSPC
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
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

ILMN
PFE
GSPC
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)48.47%21.72%
Beta (5Y)1.460.35
Max Drawdown (5Y)-82.95%-58.96%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.77M33.67M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ILMN and PFE are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.561.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.251.73

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%
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
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.

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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
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
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.631.42
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.740.71
Net Debt / EBITDA0.851.97

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%
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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%
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
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
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

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
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Illumina (ILMN) vs. Pfizer (PFE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Illumina (ILMN) and Pfizer (PFE)
MetricILMNPFE
P/E Ratio (TTM)36.6841.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)7.102.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.301.88
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.67%7.76%