Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) vs Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) 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 NVO's 2.3% |
| Value | NVO | Lower P/E (1.8x vs 16.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | NVO | 33.1% net margin vs ABBV's 4.0% |
| Stability / Safety | ABBV | Beta 0.42 vs NVO's 1.08 |
| Dividends | NVO | 4.7% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs ABBV's 2.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ABBV | +14.2% vs NVO's -57.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVO | 18.1% ROA vs ABBV's 1.8%, ROIC 34.9% 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.
Novo Nordisk is a global pharmaceutical company specializing in diabetes and obesity treatments. It generates revenue primarily from diabetes care products—mainly insulin and GLP-1 drugs—which account for over 80% of sales, with its obesity segment growing rapidly. The company's moat comes from its deep expertise in peptide-based therapies, extensive clinical data, and strong brand recognition in diabetes care.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NVO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). ABBV leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NVO is the larger business by revenue, generating $297.2B annually — 5.0x ABBV's $59.6B. NVO is the more profitable business, keeping 33.1% 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. | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $59.6B | $297.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $17.3B | $144.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.4B | $98.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $20.6B | $56.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +69.7% | +81.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.2% | +41.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +33.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +34.5% | +18.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | -21.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -88.7% | -4.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 10.3x trailing earnings, NVO trades at a 89% valuation discount to ABBV's 97.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NVO's 6.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ABBV's 27.0x.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $410.1B | $126.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $472.4B | $142.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 97.08x | 10.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.95x | 1.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.50x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.96x | 6.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 7.28x | 2.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 122.29x | 5.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 23.00x | 14.11x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ABBV delivers a 62.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $62 in annual profit, vs $51 for NVO. NVO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x 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 NVO's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +62.2% | +50.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.8% | +18.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.1% | +34.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.5% | +42.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 20.17x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $62.3B | $104.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.5B | $26.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $67.8B | $131.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.58x | 20.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ABBV five years ago would be worth $24,166 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,607 for NVO. Over the past 12 months, ABBV leads with a +14.2% total return vs NVO's -57.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ABBV at 17.7% vs NVO's -16.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | -28.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.2% | -57.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.1% | -42.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +141.7% | +16.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +413.0% | +76.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.7% | -16.7% |
Risk & Volatility
ABBV is the less volatile stock with a 0.42 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NVO's 1.08 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. ABBV currently trades 94.8% from its 52-week high vs NVO's 40.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.42x | 1.08x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $244.81 | $91.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $164.39 | $37.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.8% | +40.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 49.6 | 23.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 5.7M | 20.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ABBV as "Buy" and NVO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.5% upside for NVO (target: $47) vs 10.4% for ABBV (target: $256). For income investors, NVO offers the higher dividend yield at 4.72% vs ABBV's 2.68%.
| Metric | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $256.15 | $47.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 39 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | +4.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $6.22 | $11.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.4% | +0.2% |
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% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 100 | 192.83 | +92.8% |
AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) returned +142% over 5 years vs Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)'s +16%. 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% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | $111.8B | $297.2B | +165.9% |
Novo Nordisk A/S's revenue grew from $111.8B (2016) to $297.2B (2025) — a 11.5% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 23.2% | 7.6% | -67.3% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 33.9% | 33.1% | -2.3% |
Novo Nordisk A/S's net margin went from 34% (2016) to 33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 29.3 | 74.4 | +153.9% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 3.5 | 2.2 | -37.1% |
AbbVie Inc. has traded in a 17x–74x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~97x. Novo Nordisk A/S has traded in a 2x–6x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 3.63 | 2.39 | -34.2% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 7.48 | 23.03 | +207.9% |
Novo Nordisk A/S's EPS grew from $7.48 (2016) to $23.03 (2025) — a 13% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AbbVie Inc. generated $18B FCF in 2024 (-19% vs 2021). Novo Nordisk A/S generated $57B FCF in 2025 (+19% vs 2021).
ABBV vs NVO: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ABBV or NVO a better buy right now?
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) offers the better valuation at 10.3x trailing P/E (1.8x 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 NVO?
On trailing P/E, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is the cheapest at 10.3x versus AbbVie Inc. at 97.1x. On forward P/E, Novo Nordisk A/S is actually cheaper at 1.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ABBV or NVO?
Over the past 5 years, AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) delivered a total return of +141.7%, compared to +16.1% for Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO). 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 NVO's +76.8%. 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 NVO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) is the lower-risk stock at 0.42β versus Novo Nordisk A/S's 1.08β — meaning NVO is approximately 154% more volatile than ABBV relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 20% for AbbVie Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ABBV or NVO?
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is the more profitable company, earning 33.1% net margin versus 7.6% for AbbVie Inc. — meaning it keeps 33.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVO leads at 41.4% versus 16.2% for ABBV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NVO leads at 81.0%, 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 NVO more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) trades at 1.8x forward P/E versus 16.0x for AbbVie Inc. — 14.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NVO: 25.5% to $47.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ABBV or NVO?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) offers the highest yield at 4.7%, versus 2.7% for AbbVie Inc. (ABBV).
08Is ABBV or NVO 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%, NVO: +76.8%), 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 NVO?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: ABBV is a large-cap quality compounder stock; NVO is a mid-cap deep-value stock. 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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