MRNA vs. PFE: Moderna vs. Pfizer Stock Comparison
How do Moderna (MRNA) 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
Moderna (MRNA) and Pfizer (PFE) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but MRNA is classified in Biotechnology while PFE is classified in Pharmaceuticals.
| Profile Item | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Moderna Inc. | Pfizer Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Biotechnology | Pharmaceuticals |
| Market Capitalization | 101.48 billion USD | 167.52 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 7, 2018 | June 1, 1972 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 1,031.66% | 28.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 58.68% | 6.41% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 3.23% | -3.98% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 194.88% | 21.72% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.08 | 0.35 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -93.93% | -58.96% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 21.61M | 33.67M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 5.27 | 1.12 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 20.44 | 1.73 |
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 Pfizer (PFE) reports 4.47%, 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%
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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Moderna (MRNA) reports a negative net margin of -141.43%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Pfizer (PFE) reports 6.34%, 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%
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%
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 Pfizer (PFE) reports 33.38%, 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%
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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -39.00% | 4.47% |
| ROA (TTM) | -13.26% | 5.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | -141.43% | 6.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -557.93% | 33.38% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -66.02% | 74.90% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Moderna (MRNA) at -39.92% and Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: Pfizer (PFE) reports EPS growth of -3.55%, ranked against its industry; Moderna (MRNA) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -39.92% | -1.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -53.30% | -14.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -- | -3.55% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -37.12% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Moderna (MRNA) at 2.30 and Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 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
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
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Moderna (MRNA) at 0.19 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 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
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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 2.30 | 1.42 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.19 | 0.71 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | 1.97 |
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 Pfizer (PFE) reports a yield of 7.30%, 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%
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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings; Moderna (MRNA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).
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%
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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 7.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 245.71% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Pfizer (PFE) trades at 41.99 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
- --
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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 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
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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 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
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MRNA | PFE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | -- | 41.99 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 45.55 | 2.63 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 11.58 | 1.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 0.29% | 7.76% |