NVO vs. QGEN: Novo Nordisk vs. Qiagen Stock Comparison
How do Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Qiagen (QGEN) 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
Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Qiagen (QGEN) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but NVO is classified in Pharmaceuticals while QGEN is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.
Qiagen (QGEN) 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.
| Profile Item | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Novo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADR | Qiagen N.V. |
| Country/Region | Denmark | Netherlands |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry Group | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences | Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences |
| GICS Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Pharmaceuticals | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 177.74 billion USD | 10.39 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 30, 1981 | June 28, 1996 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -5.29% | 17.09% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -23.41% | 10.44% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.13% | -0.72% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 45.98% | 35.52% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.67 | 0.56 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -74.70% | -41.97% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 12.11M | 3.68M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.21 | 0.36 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.28 | 0.60 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 58.38% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 10.81% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
10.81%
- Max
- 109.18%
- QGEN
- 10.81%
- Q3
- 6.23%
- Median
- -26.66%
- Q1
- -64.05%
- Min
- -167.77%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 33.92% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 18.20% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
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%
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.20%
- QGEN
- 18.20%
- Max
- 18.05%
- Q3
- 4.78%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -4.14%
- Min
- -17.05%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 40.05% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 27.75% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
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%
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
27.75%
- Max
- 83.12%
- QGEN
- 27.75%
- Q3
- 14.77%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- -78.82%
- Min
- -207.40%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 58.38% | 10.81% |
| ROA (TTM) | 19.05% | 5.68% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 33.92% | 18.20% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 40.05% | 27.75% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 83.33% | 67.06% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 5.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Qiagen (QGEN) at 409.76% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 1.77%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.43% | 5.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 20.43% | -0.81% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 1.77% | 409.76% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 23.52% | -0.19% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Qiagen (QGEN) at 2.63 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.
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
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.63
- Max
- 25.13
- Q3
- 12.13
- Median
- 5.52
- QGEN
- 2.63
- Q1
- 2.47
- Min
- 0.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 and Qiagen (QGEN) at 0.47 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
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
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.47
- Max
- 1.42
- Q3
- 0.65
- QGEN
- 0.47
- Median
- 0.15
- Q1
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.85 | 2.63 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.62 | 0.47 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.49 | 1.08 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 29.03% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 0.71% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.
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%
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
0.71%
- QGEN
- 0.71%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 45.36% and Qiagen (QGEN) at 18.21% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.
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%
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
18.21%
- QGEN
- 18.21%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 29.03% | 0.71% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 45.36% | 18.21% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 10.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Qiagen (QGEN) at 27.21 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NVO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
27.21
- Max
- 85.34
- Q3
- 43.46
- QGEN
- 27.21
- Median
- 26.69
- Q1
- 13.30
- Min
- 0.07
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Qiagen (QGEN) at 4.91 prices around its industry’s middle — NVO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
4.91
- Max
- 58.18
- Q3
- 25.77
- Median
- 7.30
- QGEN
- 4.91
- Q1
- 3.01
- Min
- 0.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 and Qiagen (QGEN) at 2.99 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
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
QGEN
Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group
2.99
- Max
- 13.53
- Q3
- 6.54
- Median
- 3.25
- QGEN
- 2.99
- Q1
- 1.69
- Min
- -5.59
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NVO | QGEN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.18 | 27.21 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.53 | 4.91 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.43 | 2.99 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 18.43% | 3.62% |