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NVS vs. PCVX: Novartis vs. Vaxcyte Stock Comparison

How do Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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

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

Novartis (NVS) has more than two decades of public-market history since November 7, 1996, whereas Vaxcyte (PCVX) listed on June 12, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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 Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
Profile ItemNVSPCVX
NameNovartis AG Sponsored ADRVaxcyte Inc.
Country/RegionSwitzerlandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsBiotechnology
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsBiotechnology
Market Capitalization307.00 billion USD10.11 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 7, 1996June 12, 2020
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NVS
PCVX
GSPC
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX), 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 Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
Total Return (1Y)32.98%59.00%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.72%11.29%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.80%21.60%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NVS
PCVX
GSPC
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX), 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 Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.12%56.01%
Beta (5Y)0.411.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-20.42%-76.22%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.07M2.12M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NVS and PCVX 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 Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.060.98
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.461.76

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) reports a negative ROE of -42.68%; 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.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

-42.68%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
PCVX
-42.68%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 0.00%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
PCVX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 34.27% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 0.00%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

Max
83.12%
Q3
14.77%
PCVX
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
ROE (TTM)24.33%-42.68%
ROA (TTM)10.86%-24.98%
Net Margin (TTM)17.49%0.00%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.27%0.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.21%0.00%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Only one side can be read here: Novartis (NVS) reports revenue growth of 9.57%, ranked against its industry; Vaxcyte (PCVX) has no revenue growth figure this period.

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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): 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; Vaxcyte (PCVX) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.57%--
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.25%--
EPS Growth (YoY)21.81%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)31.14%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 4.56 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Novartis (NVS) at 0.88 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NVS.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.56

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
PCVX
4.56
Q1
2.47
Min
0.10
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 0.09 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.09

Max
1.42
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
PCVX
0.09
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.884.56
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.290.09
Net Debt / EBITDA1.64--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

PCVX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) 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.

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%

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

PCVX
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)90.46%0.00%

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 Vaxcyte (PCVX) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
PCVX
--
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): PCVX 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)

A sales-based read is only available for Novartis (NVS), whose P/S ratio of 5.35 ranks against industry peers; Vaxcyte (PCVX) reports no figure this period.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

--

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
PCVX
--
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Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): PCVX does not report P/S ratio, so it has no value marker; NVS is benchmarked against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Vaxcyte (PCVX) at 3.83 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 carries an above-peer premium to book — NVS is pricier on assets.

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

PCVX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.83

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
PCVX
3.83
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
Loading chart…
Novartis (NVS) vs. Vaxcyte (PCVX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Vaxcyte (PCVX)
MetricNVSPCVX
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.02--
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.35--
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.253.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.67%-5.24%