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NVO vs. VTRS: Novo Nordisk vs. Viatris Stock Comparison

How do Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS) 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 Viatris (VTRS) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Viatris (VTRS) 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
Profile ItemNVOVTRS
NameNovo Nordisk A/S Sponsored ADRViatris Inc.
Country/RegionDenmarkUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization177.74 billion USD22.83 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateApril 30, 1981March 17, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NVO
VTRS
GSPC
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS), 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
Total Return (1Y)-5.29%108.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-23.41%36.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-4.13%11.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NVO
VTRS
GSPC
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS), 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)45.98%32.53%
Beta (5Y)0.670.86
Max Drawdown (5Y)-74.70%-45.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.11M8.87M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NVO and VTRS 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 Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.213.22
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.285.63

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Viatris (VTRS) reports a negative ROE of -4.21%; 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.

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%

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-4.21%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
VTRS
-4.21%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Viatris (VTRS) reports a negative net margin of -4.13%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 33.92%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-4.13%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
VTRS
-4.13%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 40.05% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Viatris (VTRS) at 13.85%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.85%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
VTRS
13.85%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
ROE (TTM)58.38%-4.21%
ROA (TTM)19.05%2.91%
Net Margin (TTM)33.92%-4.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)40.05%13.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)83.33%41.13%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 6.43% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Viatris (VTRS) at -2.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): 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; Viatris (VTRS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.43%-2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)20.43%-4.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)1.77%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)23.52%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.85 and Viatris (VTRS) at 1.55 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.55

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
VTRS
1.55
Min
0.10
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.62 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Viatris (VTRS) at 0.99 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.99

Max
1.42
VTRS
0.99
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.851.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.620.99
Net Debt / EBITDA0.492.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 29.03% and Viatris (VTRS) at 2.53% 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%

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.53%

VTRS
2.53%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Viatris (VTRS) reports payout ratio above 100% at 960.00%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Novo Nordisk (NVO) reports 45.36%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

960.00%

VTRS
960.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
Dividend Yield (TTM)29.03%2.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)45.36%960.00%

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 Viatris (VTRS) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
VTRS
--
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): VTRS 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)

Both Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 0.53 and Viatris (VTRS) at 1.55 fetch a relatively low price per dollar of sales, landing in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.55

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
VTRS
1.55
Min
0.01
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Viatris (VTRS) at 1.67 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Novo Nordisk (NVO) at 5.43 is valued near its industry’s middle — VTRS is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.

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

VTRS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.67

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
VTRS
1.67
Min
-5.59
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Novo Nordisk (NVO) vs. Viatris (VTRS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVOVTRS
P/E Ratio (TTM)10.18--
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.531.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)5.431.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)18.43%13.84%