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MRNA vs. NVO: Moderna vs. Novo Nordisk Stock Comparison

How do Moderna (MRNA) 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

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

Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
Profile ItemMRNANVO
NameModerna Inc.Novo 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 Capitalization101.48 billion USD177.74 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 7, 2018April 30, 1981
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MRNA
NVO
GSPC
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Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
Total Return (1Y)1,031.66%-5.29%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)58.68%-23.41%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.23%-4.13%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MRNA
NVO
GSPC
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Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)194.88%45.98%
Beta (5Y)1.080.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)-93.93%-74.70%
Avg. Volume (3M)21.61M12.11M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MRNA 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)5.27-0.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)20.44-0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative ROE of -39.00%; 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.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-39.00%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
MRNA
-39.00%
Q1
-64.05%
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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 33.92%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-141.43%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
MRNA
-141.43%

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative operating margin of -557.93%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 40.05%, ranking against industry peers normally.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-557.93%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
MRNA
-557.93%

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
ROE (TTM)-39.00%58.38%
ROA (TTM)-13.26%19.05%
Net Margin (TTM)-141.43%33.92%
Operating Margin (TTM)-557.93%40.05%
Gross Margin (TTM)-66.02%83.33%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Moderna (MRNA) 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; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
Revenue Growth (YoY)-39.92%6.43%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-53.30%20.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)--1.77%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--23.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.30

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
MRNA
2.30
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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 and Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.19

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
MRNA
0.19
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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Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.300.85
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.190.62
Net Debt / EBITDA--0.49

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) 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.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

MRNA
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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Moderna (MRNA) 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.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

MRNA
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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
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 Moderna (MRNA) has no P/E ratio this period.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

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

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novo Nordisk (NVO): MRNA 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 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

45.55

Max
58.18
MRNA
45.55
Q3
25.77
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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Moderna (MRNA) 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 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 carries an above-peer premium to book — MRNA is pricier on assets.

MRNA

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

11.58

Max
13.53
MRNA
11.58
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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Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novo Nordisk (NVO)
MetricMRNANVO
P/E Ratio (TTM)--10.18
P/S Ratio (TTM)45.550.53
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.585.43
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.29%18.43%