Novartis (NVS) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has outperformed Novartis (NVS) over the past year, gaining 23.2% versus a gain of 8.9%. Over five years, VRTX leads with a +178.2% price change compared with +71.9% for NVS. Novartis is the larger company by market cap ($272.33 billion vs $128.16 billion), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Novartis trades at a lower forward P/E (14.6x vs 25.1x for Vertex Pharmaceuticals). Novartis pays a dividend yielding 3.26%, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals does not currently pay one.
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 | NVS | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $143.28 | $505.64 |
| Market cap | $272.33B | $128.16B |
| 1-day change | +1.77% | +0.66% |
| YTD return | +3.92% | +11.53% |
| 1-year return | +8.92% | +23.24% |
| 5-year return | +71.94% | +178.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.64 | 29.45 |
| Forward P/E | 14.63 | 25.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.62 | $17.17 |
| Dividend yield | 3.26% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $4.67 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $12.00B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +8.90% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $13.98B | $3.95B |
| Gross margin | — | 86.24% |
| Operating margin | — | 34.77% |
| Net margin | — | 32.94% |
| 52-week high | $170.46 | $560.25 |
| 52-week low | $121.57 | $402.58 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.95% | -9.75% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +8.19% | +13.00% |
| Average volume | 1.96M | 1.18M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.90B | 253.46M |
| Employees | 75,267 | 6,400 |
| 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
- Novartis is about 2.1 times larger than Vertex Pharmaceuticals by market value ($272.33B vs $128.16B).
- VRTX has outperformed NVS by 14.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.4x vs 21.6x trailing P/E).
- Novartis offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (3.26% vs 0.00%).
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
About Vertex Pharmaceuticals
VRTX stock →Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated operates as a biotechnology company in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers transformative medicines for people with serious diseases with a focus on specialty markets, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), sickle cell disease (SCD), transfusion dependent beta thalassemia (TDT), and acute pain.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 6,400 employees
NVS vs VRTX FAQ
Which is bigger, Novartis or Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
Novartis (NVS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $272.33B compared with $128.16B for Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NVS or VRTX?
VRTX returned +23.24% over the past 12 months, compared with +8.92% for NVS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NVS or VRTX?
NVS has the lower trailing P/E at 21.6, versus 29.4 for VRTX. 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, Novartis or Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
Novartis pays a dividend yielding 3.26%, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Novartis and Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.