NVS vs. SNY: Novartis vs. Sanofi Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY) 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 Sanofi (SNY) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Both Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY) trade as ADRs — their core financials are comparable, but keep FX, depositary-program fees, and dividend withholding in view for each.

Company profile comparison for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Profile Item	NVS	SNY
Name	Novartis AG Sponsored ADR	Sanofi ADR
Country/Region	Switzerland	France
GICS Sector	Health Care	Health Care
GICS Industry Group	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences	Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Pharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-Industry	Pharmaceuticals	Pharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization	307.00 billion USD	112.71 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	November 7, 1996	July 1, 2002
Security Type	ADR	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NVS

SNY

GSPC

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY), 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 Sanofi (SNY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
Total Return (1Y)	32.98%	2.73%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	24.72%	6.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	18.80%	3.16%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NVS

SNY

GSPC

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY), 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 Sanofi (SNY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.12%	23.60%
Beta (5Y)	0.41	0.28
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-20.42%	-33.52%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.07M	3.29M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

NVS and SNY 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 Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.06	-0.07
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.46	-0.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Novartis (NVS) at 24.33% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Sanofi (SNY) at 5.72% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NVS.

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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

5.72%

Max: 109.18%
Q3: 6.23%
SNY: 5.72%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Novartis (NVS) at 17.49% and Sanofi (SNY) at 8.20% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

8.20%

Max: 18.05%
SNY: 8.20%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Novartis (NVS) at 34.27% and Sanofi (SNY) at 30.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

30.89%

Max: 83.12%
SNY: 30.89%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
ROE (TTM)	24.33%	5.72%
ROA (TTM)	10.86%	5.31%
Net Margin (TTM)	17.49%	8.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)	34.27%	30.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)	75.21%	73.68%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% and Sanofi (SNY) at 5.49% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Novartis (NVS) at 21.81% and Sanofi (SNY) at 39.43% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.57%	5.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.25%	4.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)	21.81%	39.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	31.14%	6.02%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Novartis (NVS) at 0.88 and Sanofi (SNY) at 1.12 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.12

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
SNY: 1.12
Min: 0.10

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Sanofi (SNY) at 0.27 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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.27

Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
SNY: 0.27
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): 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 Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.88	1.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.29	0.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.64	0.96

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.00%

SNY: 0.00%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) reports payout ratio above 100% at 119.86%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Novartis (NVS) reports 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%

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

119.86%

SNY: 119.86%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.88%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	90.46%	119.86%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Novartis (NVS) at 31.02 and Sanofi (SNY) at 23.40 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

23.40

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
Median: 26.69
SNY: 23.40
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sanofi (SNY) at 2.21 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 prices around its industry’s middle — SNY costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.21

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
Q1: 3.01
SNY: 2.21
Min: 0.01

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Sanofi (SNY) at 1.38 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while Novartis (NVS) at 8.25 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

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

SNY

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.38

Max: 13.53
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.69
SNY: 1.38
Min: -5.59

Novartis (NVS) vs. Sanofi (SNY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Sanofi (SNY)
Metric	NVS	SNY
P/E Ratio (TTM)	31.02	23.40
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.35	2.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	8.25	1.38
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	3.67%	7.17%