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MEDP vs. NVS: Medpace vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

How do Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS) 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

Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MEDP is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services while NVS is classified in Pharmaceuticals.

Medpace (MEDP) 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.

Company profile comparison for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
Profile ItemMEDPNVS
NameMedpace Holdings, Inc.Novartis AG Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSwitzerland
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 Capitalization18.27 billion USD307.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateAugust 11, 2016November 7, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MEDP
NVS
GSPC
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS), 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 Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
Total Return (1Y)13.29%32.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)35.26%24.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)24.49%18.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MEDP
NVS
GSPC
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS), 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 Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)44.16%27.12%
Beta (5Y)1.100.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-42.87%-20.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)258.39K2.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MEDP and NVS 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 Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.201.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.261.46

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Medpace (MEDP) at 117.88% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Novartis (NVS) at 24.33% also sits in the top quartile.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

117.88%

MEDP
117.88%
Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

24.33%

Max
109.18%
NVS
24.33%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) at 18.24% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% also retains a top-quartile share.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

18.24%

MEDP
18.24%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

17.49%

Max
18.05%
NVS
17.49%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Medpace (MEDP) at 23.12% 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.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.12%

Max
83.12%
MEDP
23.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

34.27%

Max
83.12%
NVS
34.27%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
ROE (TTM)117.88%24.33%
ROA (TTM)18.71%10.86%
Net Margin (TTM)18.24%17.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.12%34.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)72.24%75.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Medpace (MEDP) at 19.97% 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.

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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Medpace (MEDP) at 20.98% and Novartis (NVS) at 21.81% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)19.97%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)20.12%9.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)20.98%21.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)28.04%31.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Medpace (MEDP) at 0.83 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.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.83

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
MEDP
0.83
Min
0.10

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.88

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
NVS
0.88
Min
0.10
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Medpace (MEDP) at 0.29 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 uses more debt funding than most peers.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.29

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
MEDP
0.29
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.29

Max
1.42
NVS
1.29
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.830.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.291.29
Net Debt / EBITDA-0.841.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports a yield of 2.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

MEDP
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.88%

NVS
2.88%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Medpace (MEDP) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports a payout of 90.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

MEDP
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

90.46%

NVS
90.46%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%90.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Medpace (MEDP) at 36.26 and Novartis (NVS) at 31.02 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

36.26

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
MEDP
36.26
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.02

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
NVS
31.02
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Medpace (MEDP) at 6.44 and Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.44

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
MEDP
6.44
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.35

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
NVS
5.35
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Medpace (MEDP) at 31.23 prices even higher, above its industry range.

MEDP

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

31.23

MEDP
31.23
Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

NVS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.25

Max
13.53
NVS
8.25
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Medpace (MEDP) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Medpace (MEDP) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMEDPNVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)36.2631.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)6.445.35
P/B Ratio (MRQ)31.238.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.72%3.67%