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PFE vs. RPRX: Pfizer vs. Royalty Pharma Stock Comparison

How do Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) 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

Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Pfizer (PFE) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 1, 1972, whereas Royalty Pharma (RPRX) listed on June 16, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
Profile ItemPFERPRX
NamePfizer Inc.Royalty Pharma plc Class A Ordinary Shares
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life SciencesPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
GICS IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
GICS Sub-IndustryPharmaceuticalsPharmaceuticals
Market Capitalization167.52 billion USD38.70 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJune 1, 1972June 16, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PFE
RPRX
GSPC
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX), 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 Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
Total Return (1Y)28.65%81.08%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)6.41%39.21%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-3.98%14.22%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PFE
RPRX
GSPC
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX), 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 Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.72%22.05%
Beta (5Y)0.350.36
Max Drawdown (5Y)-58.96%-41.98%
Avg. Volume (3M)33.67M3.10M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PFE and RPRX 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 Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.123.48
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.735.72

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 12.09% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for RPRX.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.47%

Max
109.18%
Q3
6.23%
PFE
4.47%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

12.09%

Max
109.18%
RPRX
12.09%
Q3
6.23%
Median
-26.66%
Q1
-64.05%
Min
-167.77%
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 25.70% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Pfizer (PFE) at 6.34% also retains a top-quartile share.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

6.34%

Max
18.05%
PFE
6.34%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

25.70%

RPRX
25.70%
Max
18.05%
Q3
4.78%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-4.14%
Min
-17.05%
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their net margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 81.32% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

33.38%

Max
83.12%
PFE
33.38%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

81.32%

Max
83.12%
RPRX
81.32%
Q3
14.77%
Median
0.00%
Q1
-78.82%
Min
-207.40%
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
ROE (TTM)4.47%12.09%
ROA (TTM)5.59%5.43%
Net Margin (TTM)6.34%25.70%
Operating Margin (TTM)33.38%81.32%
Gross Margin (TTM)74.90%99.79%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 5.06% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Pfizer (PFE) at -1.65% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 23.09% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.65%5.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-14.80%2.06%
EPS Growth (YoY)-3.55%23.09%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-37.12%161.10%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 1.29 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.42

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
PFE
1.42
Min
0.10

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.29

Max
25.13
Q3
12.13
Median
5.52
Q1
2.47
RPRX
1.29
Min
0.10
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 0.88 lean more heavily on debt funding than most peers, landing in the higher-leverage quartile of their industries.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.71

Max
1.42
PFE
0.71
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

0.88

Max
1.42
RPRX
0.88
Q3
0.65
Median
0.15
Q1
0.02
Min
0.00
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.421.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.710.88
Net Debt / EBITDA1.974.76

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 7.30% and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 1.37% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

7.30%

PFE
7.30%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.37%

RPRX
1.37%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Royalty Pharma (RPRX) reports 60.46%, ranking against industry peers normally.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

245.71%

PFE
245.71%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

60.46%

RPRX
60.46%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
Dividend Yield (TTM)7.30%1.37%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)245.71%60.46%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 43.99 sits in the richer quartile — RPRX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

41.99

Max
85.34
Q3
43.46
PFE
41.99
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

43.99

Max
85.34
RPRX
43.99
Q3
43.46
Median
26.69
Q1
13.30
Min
0.07
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 14.79 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.63

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
PFE
2.63
Min
0.01

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

14.79

Max
58.18
Q3
25.77
RPRX
14.79
Median
7.30
Q1
3.01
Min
0.01
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 and Royalty Pharma (RPRX) at 4.39 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

PFE

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

1.88

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
Median
3.25
PFE
1.88
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59

RPRX

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

4.39

Max
13.53
Q3
6.54
RPRX
4.39
Median
3.25
Q1
1.69
Min
-5.59
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Pfizer (PFE) vs. Royalty Pharma (RPRX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Royalty Pharma (RPRX)
MetricPFERPRX
P/E Ratio (TTM)41.9943.99
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.6314.79
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.884.39
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)7.76%-1.16%