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MRNA vs. NVS: Moderna vs. Novartis Stock Comparison

How do Moderna (MRNA) 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

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

Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
Profile ItemMRNANVS
NameModerna Inc.Novartis AG Sponsored ADR
Country/RegionUnited StatesSwitzerland
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryBiotechnologyPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization101.48 billion USD307.00 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateDecember 7, 2018November 7, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MRNA
NVS
GSPC
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Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
Total Return (1Y)1,031.66%32.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)58.68%24.72%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)3.23%18.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)194.88%27.12%
Beta (5Y)1.080.41
Max Drawdown (5Y)-93.93%-20.42%
Avg. Volume (3M)21.61M2.07M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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MRNA 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)5.271.06
Sortino Ratio (1Y)20.441.46

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 Novartis (NVS) reports 24.33%, 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%

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) reports 17.49%, 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%

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) reports 34.27%, 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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
ROE (TTM)-39.00%24.33%
ROA (TTM)-13.26%10.86%
Net Margin (TTM)-141.43%17.49%
Operating Margin (TTM)-557.93%34.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)-66.02%75.21%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% 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. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Novartis (NVS) reports EPS growth of 21.81%, ranked against its industry; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
Revenue Growth (YoY)-39.92%9.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-53.30%9.25%
EPS Growth (YoY)--21.81%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--31.14%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 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.

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

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

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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Moderna (MRNA) 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 Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
Current Ratio (MRQ)2.300.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.191.29
Net Debt / EBITDA--1.64

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 Novartis (NVS) reports a yield of 2.88%, 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%

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): 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 Novartis (NVS) reports a payout of 90.46%, 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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%90.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Novartis (NVS) trades at 31.02 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
--

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): MRNA does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; NVS is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Moderna (MRNA) at 45.55 sits in the pricier quartile — MRNA costs more per dollar of sales.

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

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both Moderna (MRNA) at 11.58 and Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

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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Moderna (MRNA) vs. Novartis (NVS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Moderna (MRNA) and Novartis (NVS)
MetricMRNANVS
P/E Ratio (TTM)--31.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)45.555.35
P/B Ratio (MRQ)11.588.25
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.29%3.67%