PFE vs. WST: Pfizer vs. West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Comparison

Company Profile

Pfizer (PFE) and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) both fall under the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group, but PFE is classified in Pharmaceuticals while WST is classified in Life Sciences Tools & Services.

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

Trailing Returns

Calendar-Year Returns

Performance Metrics

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

Return Distribution

Risk Metrics

Pfizer (PFE) is heavily traded at around 33.67M shares per day, whereas West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) sees a more moderate 603.86K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Profitability

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 21.23% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for WST.

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 18.81% 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.

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 33.38% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 25.37% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

Profitability Metrics

Growth

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 6.25% 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.

Both Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 1.49% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Growth Metrics

Financial Strength

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 2.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PFE.

West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.11 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 uses more debt funding than most peers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Dividends

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 7.30% and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 0.22% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

Pfizer (PFE) reports payout ratio above 100% at 245.71%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) reports 9.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

Dividend Metrics

Valuation

Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 44.87 sits in the richer quartile — WST needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

Pfizer (PFE) at 2.63 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 8.20 prices around its industry’s middle — PFE costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) at 9.40 carries an above-peer premium to book — WST is pricier on assets.

Valuation Metrics