Sanofi (SNY) vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) has outperformed Sanofi (SNY) over the past year, gaining 23.2% versus a loss of 18.3%. Over five years, VRTX leads with a +178.2% price change compared with -17.7% for SNY. Vertex Pharmaceuticals is the larger company by market cap ($128.16 billion vs $96.32 billion), about 1.3 times the size.
On valuation, Sanofi trades at a lower forward P/E (7.4x vs 25.1x for Vertex Pharmaceuticals). Sanofi pays a dividend yielding 10.25%, 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 | SNY | VRTX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $40.20 | $505.64 |
| Market cap | $96.32B | $128.16B |
| 1-day change | +1.62% | +0.66% |
| YTD return | -17.04% | +11.53% |
| 1-year return | -18.29% | +23.24% |
| 5-year return | -17.71% | +178.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.83 | 29.45 |
| Forward P/E | 7.44 | 25.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.93 | $17.17 |
| Dividend yield | 10.25% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $4.12 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $12.00B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +8.90% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $3.95B |
| Gross margin | — | 86.24% |
| Operating margin | — | 34.77% |
| Net margin | — | 32.94% |
| 52-week high | $52.68 | $560.25 |
| 52-week low | $39.18 | $402.58 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.69% | -9.75% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.36% | +13.00% |
| Average volume | 2.89M | 1.16M |
| Shares outstanding | 2.40B | 253.46M |
| Employees | 74,846 | 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
- VRTX has outperformed SNY by 41.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.4x vs 20.8x trailing P/E).
- Sanofi offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (10.25% vs 0.00%).
About Sanofi
SNY stock →Sanofi engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of therapeutic solutions. It provides immunology and inflammation, rare diseases neurology, oncology, and other vaccines.
Health Care · Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations · 74,846 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
SNY vs VRTX FAQ
Which is bigger, Sanofi or Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $128.16B compared with $96.32B for Sanofi (SNY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SNY or VRTX?
VRTX returned +23.24% over the past 12 months, compared with -18.29% for SNY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SNY or VRTX?
SNY has the lower trailing P/E at 20.8, 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, Sanofi or Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
Sanofi pays a dividend yielding 10.25%, while Vertex Pharmaceuticals does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Sanofi and Vertex Pharmaceuticals in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Biotechnology: Pharmaceutical Preparations industry within the Health Care sector.