Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) vs AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) 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 | AZN | 8.6% revenue growth vs ABBV's 3.7% |
| Value | ABBV | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 20.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | AZN | 17.4% net margin vs ABBV's 4.0% |
| Stability / Safety | AZN | Beta 0.27 vs ABBV's 0.42, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ABBV | 2.7% yield, 12-year raise streak, vs AZN's 0.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AZN | +40.3% vs ABBV's +14.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AZN | 9.0% ROA vs ABBV's 1.8%, ROIC 14.9% 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
AstraZeneca is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes prescription medicines across multiple therapeutic areas. It generates revenue primarily from oncology drugs (~40% of total revenue), cardiovascular/renal/metabolism treatments (~30%), and respiratory/immunology products, with the remainder from rare diseases and vaccines. The company's competitive advantage lies in its robust R&D pipeline—particularly in oncology and biologics—and its global commercial infrastructure that spans both developed and emerging markets.
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.
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
AZN leads in 5 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). ABBV leads in 1 (Analyst Outlook).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
ABBV and AZN operate at a comparable scale, with $59.6B and $58.7B in trailing revenue. AZN is the more profitable business, keeping 17.4% 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 | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $58.7B | $59.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $19.5B | $17.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $10.2B | $2.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $10.5B | $20.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +81.9% | +69.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.4% | +15.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.4% | +4.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.9% | +34.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.1% | +9.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +54.2% | -88.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 63.7x trailing earnings, AZN trades at a 34% valuation discount to ABBV's 97.1x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AZN's 17.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ABBV's 27.0x.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $323.2B | $410.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $347.1B | $472.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 63.75x | 97.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.30x | 15.95x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.92x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.82x | 26.96x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.50x | 7.28x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 13.37x | 122.29x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 27.47x | 23.00x |
Profitability & Efficiency
ABBV delivers a 62.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $62 in annual profit, vs $21 for AZN. AZN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.61x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ABBV's 20.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AZN scores 8/9 vs ABBV's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +21.0% | +62.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.0% | +1.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.9% | +11.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.2% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.61x | 20.17x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $24.0B | $62.3B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.7B | $5.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $29.7B | $67.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.32x | 1.58x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ABBV five years ago would be worth $24,166 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $22,160 for AZN. Over the past 12 months, AZN leads with a +40.3% total return vs ABBV's +14.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AZN at 18.3% vs ABBV's 17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.3% | +1.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +40.3% | +14.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.7% | +63.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +121.6% | +141.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +296.2% | +413.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.3% | +17.7% |
Risk & Volatility
AZN is the less volatile stock with a 0.27 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ABBV's 0.42 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AZN currently trades 98.0% from its 52-week high vs ABBV's 94.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.27x | 0.42x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $212.71 | $244.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $91.44 | $164.39 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.0% | +94.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.1 | 49.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.5M | 5.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AZN as "Buy" and ABBV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 10.4% upside for ABBV (target: $256) vs -49.4% for AZN (target: $106). For income investors, ABBV offers the higher dividend yield at 2.68% vs AZN's 0.78%.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $105.50 | $256.15 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 39 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.8% | +2.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.63 | $6.22 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +0.4% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 100 | 207.5 | +107.5% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 100 | 254.41 | +154.4% |
AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) returned +142% over 5 years vs AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)'s +122%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | $23.0B | $58.7B | +155.4% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | $25.6B | $56.3B | +119.7% |
AstraZeneca PLC's revenue grew from $23.0B (2016) to $58.7B (2025) — a 11.0% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 15.2% | 17.5% | +14.8% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 23.2% | 7.6% | -67.3% |
AstraZeneca PLC's net margin went from 15% (2016) to 17% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 54.3 | 53.7 | -1.1% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 29.3 | 74.4 | +153.9% |
AstraZeneca PLC has traded in a 54x–194x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~64x. AbbVie Inc. has traded in a 17x–74x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~97x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 1.38 | 3.27 | +137.0% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 3.63 | 2.39 | -34.2% |
AstraZeneca PLC's EPS grew from $1.38 (2016) to $3.27 (2025) — a 10% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AstraZeneca PLC generated $12B FCF in 2025 (+213% vs 2021). AbbVie Inc. generated $18B FCF in 2024 (-19% vs 2021).
AZN vs ABBV: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AZN or ABBV a better buy right now?
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) offers the better valuation at 63.7x trailing P/E (20.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) a "Buy" — based on 41 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 — AZN or ABBV?
On trailing P/E, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the cheapest at 63.7x versus AbbVie Inc. at 97.1x. On forward P/E, AbbVie Inc. is actually cheaper at 16.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AZN or ABBV?
Over the past 5 years, AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) delivered a total return of +141.7%, compared to +121.6% for AstraZeneca PLC (AZN). 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 AZN's +296.2%. 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 — AZN or ABBV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.27β versus AbbVie Inc.'s 0.42β — meaning ABBV is approximately 60% more volatile than AZN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 61% versus 20% for AbbVie Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AZN or ABBV?
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.5% net margin versus 7.6% for AbbVie Inc. — meaning it keeps 17.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AZN leads at 23.4% versus 16.2% for ABBV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AZN leads at 81.9%, 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 AZN or ABBV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) trades at 16.0x forward P/E versus 20.3x for AstraZeneca PLC — 4.3x 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 — AZN or ABBV?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) offers the highest yield at 2.7%, versus 0.8% for AstraZeneca PLC (AZN).
08Is AZN or ABBV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.27), 0.8% yield, +296.2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AZN: +296.2%, ABBV: +413.0%), 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 AZN and ABBV?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. 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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