PFE vs. ZTS: Pfizer vs. Zoetis Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS) 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 Zoetis (ZTS) are both classified in the Pharmaceuticals sub-industry within the broader Pharmaceuticals industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Profile Item	PFE	ZTS
Name	Pfizer Inc.	Zoetis Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/Region	United States	United States
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	167.52 billion USD	32.26 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 1, 1972	February 1, 2013
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PFE

ZTS

GSPC

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS), 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 Zoetis (ZTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
Total Return (1Y)	28.65%	-30.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.41%	-20.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-3.98%	-16.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PFE

ZTS

GSPC

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS), 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 Zoetis (ZTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	21.72%	38.23%
Beta (5Y)	0.35	0.66
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-58.96%	-70.45%
Avg. Volume (3M)	33.67M	4.65M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

PFE and ZTS 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 Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.12	-0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.73	-1.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 57.63% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Pfizer (PFE) at 4.47% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for ZTS.

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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

57.63%

Max: 109.18%
ZTS: 57.63%
Q3: 6.23%
Median: -26.66%
Q1: -64.05%
Min: -167.77%

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Zoetis (ZTS) at 26.41% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

26.41%

ZTS: 26.41%
Max: 18.05%
Q3: 4.78%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -4.14%
Min: -17.05%

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) at 38.19% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

38.19%

Max: 83.12%
ZTS: 38.19%
Q3: 14.77%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: -78.82%
Min: -207.40%

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
ROE (TTM)	4.47%	57.63%
ROA (TTM)	5.59%	14.87%
Net Margin (TTM)	6.34%	26.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)	33.38%	38.19%
Gross Margin (TTM)	74.90%	71.65%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.28% 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.

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Pfizer (PFE) at -3.55% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 10.05% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-1.65%	2.28%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-14.80%	5.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-3.55%	10.05%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	-37.12%	10.27%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 1.42 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.35 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.35

Max: 25.13
Q3: 12.13
Median: 5.52
Q1: 2.47
ZTS: 2.35
Min: 0.10

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but ZTS is more stretched: Pfizer (PFE) at 0.71 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.80 is above its industry benchmark range.

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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.80

ZTS: 2.80
Max: 1.42
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.15
Q1: 0.02
Min: 0.00

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	2.35
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.71	2.80
Net Debt / EBITDA	1.97	1.92

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 7.30% and Zoetis (ZTS) at 2.55% 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

2.55%

ZTS: 2.55%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) reports 35.24%, 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%

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

35.24%

ZTS: 35.24%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	7.30%	2.55%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	245.71%	35.24%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Pfizer (PFE) at 41.99 and Zoetis (ZTS) at 13.50 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

13.50

Max: 85.34
Q3: 43.46
Median: 26.69
ZTS: 13.50
Q1: 13.30
Min: 0.07

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): 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 Zoetis (ZTS) at 3.40 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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

3.40

Max: 58.18
Q3: 25.77
Median: 7.30
ZTS: 3.40
Q1: 3.01
Min: 0.01

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pfizer (PFE) at 1.88 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Zoetis (ZTS) at 9.80 carries an above-peer premium to book — ZTS is pricier on assets.

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

ZTS

Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group

9.80

Max: 13.53
ZTS: 9.80
Q3: 6.54
Median: 3.25
Q1: 1.69
Min: -5.59

Pfizer (PFE) vs. Zoetis (ZTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology & Life Sciences industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Pfizer (PFE) and Zoetis (ZTS)
Metric	PFE	ZTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	41.99	13.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.63	3.40
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.88	9.80
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.76%	6.36%