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INSM vs. NVO: Insmed vs. Novo Nordisk Stock Comparison

How do Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) 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

Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but INSM is classified in Biotechnology while NVO is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Insmed (INSM) trades as ordinary local shares, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
Profile ItemINSMNVO
NameInsmed IncorporatedNovo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesDenmark
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization25.10 billion USD177.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 2000April 30, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

INSM
NVO
GSPC
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO), 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 Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
Total Return (1Y)-39.17%-5.29%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)70.17%-23.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)28.96%-4.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

INSM
NVO
GSPC
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO), 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 Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)63.09%45.98%
Beta (5Y)0.800.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-56.54%-74.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.76M12.11M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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INSM and NVO 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 Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.69-0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.04-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) reports a negative ROE of -72.45%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 58.38%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-72.45%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
INSM
-72.45%
Min
-167.77%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

58.38%

Max
109.18%
NVO
58.38%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) reports a negative net margin of -39.85%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 33.92%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-39.85%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
INSM
-39.85%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.92%

NVO
33.92%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) reports a negative operating margin of -15.60%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 40.05%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-15.60%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
INSM
-15.60%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

40.05%

Max
83.12%
NVO
40.05%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
ROE (TTM)-72.45%58.38%
ROA (TTM)-17.25%19.05%
Net Margin (TTM)-39.85%33.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)-15.60%40.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)84.40%83.33%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Insmed (INSM) at 66.73% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for INSM.

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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports EPS growth of 1.77%, ranked against its industry; Insmed (INSM) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
Revenue Growth (YoY)66.73%6.43%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)35.20%20.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)--1.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--23.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Insmed (INSM) at 2.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NVO.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.86

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
INSM
2.86
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.85

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
NVO
0.85
Min
0.10
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Insmed (INSM) at 1.01 uses more debt funding than most peers.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.01

Max
1.42
INSM
1.01
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.62

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
NVO
0.62
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.860.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.010.62
Net Debt / EBITDA--0.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports a yield of 29.03%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

INSM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

29.03%

NVO
29.03%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Insmed (INSM) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports a payout of 45.36%, ranking against industry peers normally.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

INSM
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

45.36%

NVO
45.36%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%29.03%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%45.36%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Novo Nordisk (NVO) trades at 10.18 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Insmed (INSM) has no P/E ratio this period.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
INSM
--

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

10.18

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
NVO
10.18
Min
0.07
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): INSM does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; NVO is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Insmed (INSM) at 16.52 prices around its industry’s middle — NVO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

16.52

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
INSM
16.52
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.53

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
NVO
0.53
Min
0.01
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Insmed (INSM) at 34.55 prices above its benchmark range — INSM looks rich relative to book.

INSM

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.55

INSM
34.55
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

NVO

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.43

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
NVO
5.43
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Insmed (INSM) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Insmed (INSM) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricINSMNVO
P/E Ratio (TTM)--10.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)16.520.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)34.555.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-1.82%18.43%