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NVS vs. VTRS: Novartis vs. Viatris Stock Comparison

How do Novartis (NVS) 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

Novartis (NVS) 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 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 Viatris (VTRS)
Profile ItemNVSVTRS
NameNovartis AG Sponsored ADRViatris Inc.
Country/RegionSwitzerlandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization307.00 billion USD22.83 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 7, 1996March 17, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NVS
VTRS
GSPC
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Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
Total Return (1Y)32.98%108.98%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.72%36.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)18.80%11.59%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NVS
VTRS
GSPC
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Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)27.12%32.53%
Beta (5Y)0.410.86
Max Drawdown (5Y)-20.42%-45.69%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.07M8.87M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NVS 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 Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.063.22
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.465.63

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 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%

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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Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS) reports 17.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

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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Novartis (NVS) vs. Viatris (VTRS): 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 Viatris (VTRS) at 13.85%, 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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
ROE (TTM)24.33%-4.21%
ROA (TTM)10.86%2.91%
Net Margin (TTM)17.49%-4.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.27%13.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)75.21%41.13%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Novartis (NVS) at 9.57% 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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Novartis (NVS) vs. Viatris (VTRS): 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; Viatris (VTRS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.57%-2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)9.25%-4.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)21.81%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)31.14%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Novartis (NVS) at 0.88 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.

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

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Novartis (NVS) at 1.29 and Viatris (VTRS) at 0.99 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

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

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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Novartis (NVS) 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 Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.881.55
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.290.99
Net Debt / EBITDA1.642.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Novartis (NVS) at 2.88% and Viatris (VTRS) at 2.53% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

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%

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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Novartis (NVS) 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 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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%2.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)90.46%960.00%

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 Viatris (VTRS) 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

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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Novartis (NVS) vs. Viatris (VTRS): VTRS 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)

Viatris (VTRS) at 1.55 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Novartis (NVS) at 5.35 prices around its industry’s middle — VTRS 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

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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Novartis (NVS) 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 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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Novartis (NVS) and Viatris (VTRS)
MetricNVSVTRS
P/E Ratio (TTM)31.02--
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.351.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)8.251.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.67%13.84%