Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) vs Biogen Inc. (BIIB) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ABBV | 3.7% revenue growth vs BIIB's 1.4% |
| Value | BIIB | Lower P/E (12.2x vs 16.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | BIIB | 13.2% net margin vs ABBV's 4.0% |
| Stability / Safety | ABBV | Beta 0.42 vs BIIB's 0.61 |
| Dividends | ABBV | 2.7% yield; 12-year raise streak; BIIB pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BIIB | +36.5% vs ABBV's +14.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BIIB | 4.4% ROA vs ABBV's 1.8%, ROIC 6.5% vs 11.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative medicines for serious health conditions. It generates revenue primarily from prescription drug sales — with immunology drugs like Skyrizi and Rinvoq now driving growth as Humira faces biosimilar competition — and also earns income from its aesthetics portfolio including Botox. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep R&D pipeline, strong patent portfolio, and established commercial infrastructure for launching new blockbuster therapies.
Biogen is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing therapies for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. It generates revenue primarily from multiple sclerosis drugs like TECFIDERA and VUMERITY (~40% of sales), spinal muscular atrophy treatment SPINRAZA (~25%), and biosimilars for autoimmune conditions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep neuroscience expertise and specialized manufacturing capabilities for complex biologics.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
ABBV leads in 3 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). BIIB leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ABBV is the larger business by revenue, generating $59.6B annually — 6.1x BIIB's $9.8B. BIIB is the more profitable business, keeping 13.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ABBV's 4.0%. On growth, ABBV holds the edge at +9.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $59.6B | $9.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $17.3B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.4B | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $20.6B | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +69.7% | +70.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +19.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +13.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.5% | +21.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | -7.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -88.7% | -118.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.7x trailing earnings, BIIB trades at a 78% valuation discount to ABBV's 97.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BIIB's 11.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ABBV's 27.0x.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $410.1B | $28.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $472.4B | $32.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 97.08x | 21.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.95x | 12.16x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.96x | 11.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.28x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 122.29x | 1.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 23.00x | 13.73x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ABBV delivers a 62.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $62 in annual profit, vs $7 for BIIB. BIIB carries lower financial leverage with a 0.38x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ABBV's 20.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ABBV scores 6/9 vs BIIB's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +62.2% | +7.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.8% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.1% | +6.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.5% | +7.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 20.17x | 0.38x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $62.3B | $3.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.5B | $3.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67.8B | $6.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.58x | 8.80x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ABBV five years ago would be worth $24,166 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,020 for BIIB. Over the past 12 months, BIIB leads with a +36.5% total return vs ABBV's +14.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ABBV at 17.7% vs BIIB's -10.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | +7.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.2% | +36.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.1% | -28.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +141.7% | -29.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +413.0% | -26.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.7% | -10.8% |
Risk & Volatility
ABBV is the less volatile stock with a 0.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BIIB's 0.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.42x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $244.81 | $202.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $164.39 | $110.04 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.8% | +94.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.6 | 50.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.7M | 1.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ABBV as "Buy" and BIIB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.4% upside for ABBV (target: $256) vs 7.8% for BIIB (target: $207). ABBV is the only dividend payer here at 2.68% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $256.15 | $206.76 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.22 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 100 | 254.41 | +154.4% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 100 | 54.62 | -45.4% |
AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) returned +142% over 5 years vs Biogen Inc. (BIIB)'s -30%. A $10,000 investment in ABBV 5 years ago would be worth $24,166 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | $25.6B | $56.3B | +119.7% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | $11.4B | $9.8B | -14.3% |
Biogen Inc.'s revenue grew from $11.4B (2016) to $9.8B (2025) — a -1.7% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 23.2% | 7.6% | -67.3% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 32.3% | 13.2% | -59.2% |
Biogen Inc.'s net margin went from 32% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 29.3 | 74.4 | +153.9% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 26.7 | 19.9 | -25.5% |
AbbVie Inc. has traded in a 17x–74x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~97x. Biogen Inc. has traded in a 9x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 3.63 | 2.39 | -34.2% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 16.93 | 8.83 | -47.8% |
Biogen Inc.'s EPS grew from $16.93 (2016) to $8.83 (2025) — a -7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AbbVie Inc. generated $18B FCF in 2024 (-19% vs 2021). Biogen Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (-39% vs 2021).
ABBV vs BIIB: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ABBV or BIIB a better buy right now?
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) offers the better valuation at 21.7x trailing P/E (12.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) a "Buy" — based on 39 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ABBV or BIIB?
On trailing P/E, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the cheapest at 21.7x versus AbbVie Inc. at 97.1x. On forward P/E, Biogen Inc. is actually cheaper at 12.2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ABBV or BIIB?
Over the past 5 years, AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) delivered a total return of +141.7%, compared to -29.8% for Biogen Inc. (BIIB). A $10,000 investment in ABBV five years ago would be worth approximately $24K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ABBV returned +413.0% versus BIIB's -26.1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ABBV or BIIB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) is the lower-risk stock at 0.42β versus Biogen Inc.'s 0.61β — meaning BIIB is approximately 45% more volatile than ABBV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 20% for AbbVie Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ABBV or BIIB?
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the more profitable company, earning 13.2% net margin versus 7.6% for AbbVie Inc. — meaning it keeps 13.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BIIB leads at 19.1% versus 16.2% for ABBV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BIIB leads at 70.5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is ABBV or BIIB more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) trades at 12.2x forward P/E versus 16.0x for AbbVie Inc. — 3.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABBV: 10.4% to $256.15.
07Which pays a better dividend — ABBV or BIIB?
In this comparison, ABBV (2.7% yield) pays a dividend. BIIB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is ABBV or BIIB better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.42), 2.7% yield, +413.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABBV: +413.0%, BIIB: -26.1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between ABBV and BIIB?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. ABBV pays a dividend while BIIB does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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