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NVS vs. WFC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

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Here’s a clear look at NVS and WFC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

NVS trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, WFC is a standard domestic listing.

SymbolNVSWFC
Company NameNovartis AGWells Fargo & Company
CountrySwitzerlandUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareFinancials
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsBanks
Market Capitalization246.34 billion USD250.38 billion USD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateNovember 7, 1996June 1, 1972
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of NVS and WFC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

NVS vs. WFC: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolNVSWFC
5-Day Price Return3.47%-1.57%
13-Week Price Return11.69%2.76%
26-Week Price Return4.09%-0.88%
52-Week Price Return9.24%38.46%
Month-to-Date Return7.12%-3.06%
Year-to-Date Return13.75%11.28%
10-Day Avg. Volume2.89M13.57M
3-Month Avg. Volume3.36M17.24M
3-Month Volatility17.00%24.23%
Beta0.081.27

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

NVS

32.56%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
38.59%
Q3
19.84%
Median
11.90%
Q1
5.63%
Min
-9.96%

In the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, NVS’s Return on Equity of 32.56% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

WFC

11.36%

Banks Industry

Max
26.37%
Q3
15.92%
Median
12.25%
Q1
8.69%
Min
0.15%

WFC’s Return on Equity of 11.36% is on par with the norm for the Banks industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

NVS

24.90%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
34.51%
Q3
17.73%
Median
12.12%
Q1
5.99%
Min
-7.73%

A Net Profit Margin of 24.90% places NVS in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

WFC

22.19%

Banks Industry

Max
54.20%
Q3
35.70%
Median
28.97%
Q1
22.53%
Min
6.98%

Falling into the lower quartile for the Banks industry, WFC’s Net Profit Margin of 22.19% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

NVS

30.03%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
41.53%
Q3
23.00%
Median
16.24%
Q1
9.24%
Min
-6.94%

An Operating Profit Margin of 30.03% places NVS in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

WFC

25.35%

Banks Industry

Max
63.35%
Q3
44.59%
Median
37.24%
Q1
28.25%
Min
13.37%

WFC’s Operating Profit Margin of 25.35% is in the lower quartile for the Banks industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolNVSWFC
Return on Equity (TTM)32.56%11.36%
Return on Assets (TTM)13.32%1.06%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)24.90%22.19%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)30.03%25.35%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)76.12%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NVS

0.82

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
4.49
Q3
2.77
Median
1.74
Q1
1.26
Min
0.11

NVS’s Current Ratio of 0.82 falls into the lower quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

WFC

--

Banks Industry

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

For the Banks industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

NVS

0.77

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
2.44
Q3
1.07
Median
0.42
Q1
0.11
Min
0.00

NVS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.77 is typical for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

WFC

2.01

Banks Industry

Max
4.75
Q3
2.62
Median
1.02
Q1
0.39
Min
0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Banks industry.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

NVS

22.55

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
103.95
Q3
44.18
Median
9.83
Q1
2.82
Min
-42.71

NVS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 22.55 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Pharmaceuticals industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

WFC

--

Banks Industry

Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Banks industry.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolNVSWFC
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.82--
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.62--
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.772.01
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)22.55--

Growth

Revenue Growth

NVS vs. WFC: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

NVS vs. WFC: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NVS

3.29%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
6.98%
Q3
3.32%
Median
2.13%
Q1
0.14%
Min
0.00%

NVS’s Dividend Yield of 3.29% is consistent with its peers in the Pharmaceuticals industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

WFC

2.53%

Banks Industry

Max
10.27%
Q3
5.83%
Median
3.81%
Q1
2.50%
Min
0.00%

WFC’s Dividend Yield of 2.53% is consistent with its peers in the Banks industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NVS

102.24%

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
165.20%
Q3
90.59%
Median
49.13%
Q1
28.91%
Min
0.00%

NVS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 102.24% is in the upper quartile for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

WFC

31.00%

Banks Industry

Max
147.07%
Q3
80.55%
Median
54.40%
Q1
35.71%
Min
0.00%

WFC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 31.00% is in the lower quartile for the Banks industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolNVSWFC
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.29%2.53%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)102.24%31.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

NVS

17.43

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
42.51
Q3
26.88
Median
19.11
Q1
15.12
Min
0.00

NVS’s P/E Ratio of 17.43 is within the middle range for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

WFC

12.27

Banks Industry

Max
20.05
Q3
12.65
Median
10.21
Q1
7.54
Min
2.74

WFC’s P/E Ratio of 12.27 is within the middle range for the Banks industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

NVS

4.34

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
7.55
Q3
4.54
Median
2.11
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

NVS’s P/S Ratio of 4.34 aligns with the market consensus for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

WFC

1.91

Banks Industry

Max
5.06
Q3
2.98
Median
2.24
Q1
1.59
Min
0.45

The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Banks industry.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

NVS

6.00

Pharmaceuticals Industry

Max
9.78
Q3
4.96
Median
2.23
Q1
1.46
Min
0.60

NVS’s P/B Ratio of 6.00 is in the upper tier for the Pharmaceuticals industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

WFC

1.42

Banks Industry

Max
2.18
Q3
1.36
Median
1.09
Q1
0.81
Min
0.20

WFC’s P/B Ratio of 1.42 is in the upper tier for the Banks industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

NVS vs. WFC: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Pharmaceuticals and Banks industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolNVSWFC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)17.4312.27
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)4.341.91
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)6.001.42
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)14.1616.66