AstraZeneca (AZN) vs Novartis (NVS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Novartis (NVS) has outperformed AstraZeneca (AZN) over the past year, gaining 8.9% versus a loss of 6.8%. Over five years, NVS leads with a +71.9% price change compared with +32.9% for AZN. Novartis is the larger company by market cap ($272.33 billion vs $248.33 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, AstraZeneca trades at a lower forward P/E (13.8x vs 14.6x for Novartis). Novartis offers the higher dividend yield (3.26% vs 2.02%).
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 | AZN | NVS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $160.12 | $143.28 |
| Market cap | $248.33B | $272.33B |
| 1-day change | +0.95% | +1.77% |
| YTD return | -12.91% | +3.92% |
| 1-year return | -6.77% | +8.92% |
| 5-year return | +32.95% | +71.94% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.93 | 21.26 |
| Forward P/E | 13.85 | 14.63 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.69 | $6.74 |
| Dividend yield | 2.02% | 3.26% |
| Annual dividend | $3.23 | $4.67 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $58.74B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.63% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $10.22B | $13.98B |
| Gross margin | 81.90% | — |
| Operating margin | 23.40% | — |
| Net margin | 17.41% | — |
| 52-week high | $212.71 | $170.46 |
| 52-week low | $153.41 | $121.57 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.72% | -15.95% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +31.99% | +8.19% |
| Average volume | 3.41M | 1.97M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.55B | 1.90B |
| Employees | 96,100 | 75,267 |
| 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
- NVS has outperformed AZN by 15.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Novartis offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.26% vs 2.02%).
About AstraZeneca
AZN stock →AstraZeneca PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of prescription medicines. The company offers Imjudo, Datroway, Iressa, Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Lynparza, Calquence, Enhertu, Orpathys, Truqap, Zoladex, Faslodex, Crestor, Andexxa, Onglyza, Symlin, XIGDUO XR, Atacand, Atacand HCT, Atacand Plus, Farxiga/Forxiga, Plendil, Modip, Splendil, Munobal, Flodil, Tenormin, Tenormine, Prenormine, Atenol, Zestril, Brilinta/Brilique, Komboglyze, Qtern, Wainua, Byetta, Lokelma, Seloken ZOK, Toprol-XL, Betaloc ZOK, XIGDUO, Accolate, Accoleit, Vanticon, Bricanyl Respules, Eklira Genuair/Tudorza/Bretaris, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, Symbicort Turbuhaler, Airsupra, Bricanyl Turbuhaler, Fasenra, Rhinocort, Tezspire, Bevespi Aerosphere, Daliresp/Daxas, Oxis Turbuhaler, Saphnelo, Breztri Aerosphere, Duaklir Genuair, Pulmicort Respules, and Symbicort pMDI.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 96,100 employees
About Novartis
NVS stock →Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, distributes, markets, and sells pharmaceutical medicines in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers Entresto, an angiotensin receptorneprilysin inhibitor to treat symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF); Cosentyx to treat plaque psoriasis, pso riatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and nonradiographic axial spondy loarthritis; Kisqali, a selective oral cyclin dependent inhibitor of kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6); Promacta/Revolade to treat immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), thrombocytopenia, and patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA); Tafinlar+Mekinist, an oral combination therapy to treat patients with certain types of cancers; and Jakavi for the treatment of myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, and acute or chronic graftversushost disease (GvHD).
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 75,267 employees
AZN vs NVS FAQ
Which is bigger, AstraZeneca or Novartis?
Novartis (NVS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $272.33B compared with $248.33B for AstraZeneca (AZN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AZN or NVS?
NVS returned +8.92% over the past 12 months, compared with -6.77% for AZN (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AZN or NVS?
NVS has the lower trailing P/E at 21.3, versus 23.9 for AZN. 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, AstraZeneca or Novartis?
Novartis has the higher yield at 3.26%, compared with 2.02% for AstraZeneca.
Are AstraZeneca and Novartis in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.