NVO vs. TMO: Novo Nordisk vs. Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but NVO is classified in Pharmaceuticals while TMO is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) 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.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 58.38% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 13.38% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 33.92% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 14.94% also retains a top-quartile share.

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 40.05% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 20.19% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 3.91% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 1.77% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 7.32% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 1.81 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.75 uses more debt funding than most peers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 29.03% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 0.27% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 45.36% and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 9.70% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 10.18 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 36.64 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for NVO, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 5.44 prices around its industry’s middle — NVO costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

On P/B ratio, both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 and Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) at 4.70 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

Valuation Metrics