Abbott Laboratories (ABT) vs Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) has outperformed Abbott Laboratories (ABT) over the past year, gaining 33.7% versus a loss of 25.8%. Over five years, BMY leads with a +2.3% price change compared with -16.0% for ABT. Abbott Laboratories is the larger company by market cap ($168.44 billion vs $120.43 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Bristol-Myers Squibb trades at a lower forward P/E (8.9x vs 16.0x for Abbott Laboratories). Bristol-Myers Squibb offers the higher dividend yield (4.26% vs 2.55%). Abbott Laboratories converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 14.7% versus 14.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ABT | BMY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $97.35 | $58.96 |
| Market cap | $168.44B | $120.43B |
| 1-day change | -1.40% | -1.25% |
| YTD return | -21.20% | +10.68% |
| 1-year return | -25.78% | +33.68% |
| 5-year return | -15.97% | +2.30% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 31.40 | 12.99 |
| Forward P/E | 16.05 | 8.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.10 | $4.54 |
| Dividend yield | 2.55% | 4.26% |
| Annual dividend | $2.48 | $2.51 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $44.33B | $48.19B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +5.67% | -0.22% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $6.52B | $7.05B |
| Gross margin | 56.42% | 71.08% |
| Operating margin | 18.17% | — |
| Net margin | 14.72% | 14.64% |
| 52-week high | $135.13 | $68.64 |
| 52-week low | $81.97 | $42.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.96% | -14.11% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +24.01% | +12.24% |
| Average volume | 9.56M | 11.22M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.73B | 2.04B |
| Employees | 122,000 | 32,500 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations | Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- BMY has outperformed ABT by 59.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Abbott Laboratories trades at a higher earnings multiple (31.4x vs 13.0x trailing P/E).
- Bristol-Myers Squibb offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.26% vs 2.55%).
- Abbott Laboratories grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+5.67% vs -0.22%).
About Abbott Laboratories
ABT stock →Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 122,000 employees
About Bristol-Myers Squibb
BMY stock →Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The company offers products for oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular, and neuroscience indications.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 32,500 employees
ABT vs BMY FAQ
Which is bigger, Abbott Laboratories or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $168.44B compared with $120.43B for Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ABT or BMY?
BMY returned +33.68% over the past 12 months, compared with -25.78% for ABT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ABT or BMY?
BMY has the lower trailing P/E at 13.0, versus 31.4 for ABT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Abbott Laboratories or Bristol-Myers Squibb?
Bristol-Myers Squibb has the higher yield at 4.26%, compared with 2.55% for Abbott Laboratories.
Are Abbott Laboratories and Bristol-Myers Squibb in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.