AZN
AstraZeneca PLC
Drug Manufacturers - General
Market Cap$286.68B
5Y Perf.+72.4%
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Stock Comparison
AZN vs ABBV
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ABBV
AbbVie Inc.
Drug Manufacturers - General
Market Cap$362.56B
5Y Perf.+121.2%
AZN vs ABBV — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | AZN | ABBV |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | Drug Manufacturers - General |
| Market Cap | $286.68B | $362.56B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $60.44B | $61.16B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $10.39B | $4.23B |
| Gross Margin | 81.7% | 70.2% |
| Operating Margin | 23.7% | 26.7% |
| Forward P/E | 18.0x | 14.4x |
| Total Debt | $29.70B | $69.07B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $5.71B | $5.23B |
AZN vs ABBV — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
AZN
ABBV
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) | 100 | 172.4 | +72.4% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 100 | 221.2 | +121.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: AZN vs ABBV
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: AZN leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. AbbVie Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
AZN
AstraZeneca PLC
The Growth Play
AZN carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure.
- Rev growth 8.6%, EPS growth 190.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.8%
- 8.6% revenue growth vs ABBV's 8.6%
- 17.2% margin vs ABBV's 6.9%
Best for: growth exposure
ABBV
AbbVie Inc.
The Income Pick
ABBV is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 13 yrs, beta 0.34, yield 3.2%
- 306.7% 10Y total return vs AZN's 290.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.34, current ratio 0.67x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AZN | 8.6% revenue growth vs ABBV's 8.6% |
| Value | ABBV | Lower P/E (14.4x vs 18.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | AZN | 17.2% margin vs ABBV's 6.9% |
| Stability / Safety | ABBV | Beta 0.34 vs AZN's 0.67 |
| Dividends | ABBV | 3.2% yield, 13-year raise streak, vs AZN's 1.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AZN | +35.4% vs ABBV's +13.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AZN | 9.1% ROA vs ABBV's 3.1%, ROIC 14.9% vs 23.9% |
AZN vs ABBV — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
AZN vs ABBV — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLABBVLAGGINGAZN
AZNAstraZeneca PLC
1leads
ABBVAbbVie Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs AZNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ABBV3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
AZN5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
ABBV4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ABBV2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — AZN and ABBV each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ABBV and AZN operate at a comparable scale, with $61.2B and $60.4B in trailing revenue. AZN is the more profitable business, keeping 17.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ABBV's 6.9%.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $60.4B | $61.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $20.1B | $24.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $10.4B | $4.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9.1B | $18.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +81.7% | +70.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.7% | +26.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.2% | +6.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.1% | +30.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.5% | +10.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.3% | +57.4% |
Evenly matched — AZN and ABBV each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ABBV leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 28.3x trailing earnings, AZN trades at a 67% valuation discount to ABBV's 86.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ABBV's 15.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AZN's 16.0x.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $286.7B | $362.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $310.7B | $426.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 28.28x | 86.49x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.97x | 14.44x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.30x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.95x | 15.10x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.88x | 5.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.93x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 24.37x | 20.35x |
ABBV leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
AZN leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ABBV delivers a 62.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $62 in annual profit, vs $22 for AZN. 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 | +22.2% | +62.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.1% | +3.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +14.9% | +23.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.2% | +21.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.61x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $24.0B | $63.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $5.7B | $5.2B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $29.7B | $69.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.43x | 3.28x |
AZN leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
ABBV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ABBV five years ago would be worth $20,276 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $18,698 for AZN. Over the past 12 months, AZN leads with a +35.4% total return vs ABBV's +13.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ABBV at 15.0% vs AZN's 9.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +2.4% | -9.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +35.4% | +13.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.0% | +52.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +87.0% | +102.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +290.3% | +306.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.7% | +15.0% |
ABBV leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — AZN and ABBV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ABBV is the less volatile stock with a 0.34 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AZN's 0.67 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AZN currently trades 86.9% from its 52-week high vs ABBV's 83.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.67x | 0.34x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $212.71 | $244.81 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $91.44 | $176.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.9% | +83.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 31.6 | 48.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 5.9M |
Evenly matched — AZN and ABBV each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ABBV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AZN as "Buy" and ABBV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.2% upside for ABBV (target: $257) vs 14.1% for AZN (target: $211). For income investors, ABBV offers the higher dividend yield at 3.21% vs AZN's 1.76%.
| Metric | AZNAstraZeneca PLC | ABBVAbbVie Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $211.00 | $256.64 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 41 | 41 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.8% | +3.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 4 | 13 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.25 | $6.57 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.3% | +0.3% |
ABBV leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ABBV leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AZN leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallAbbVie Inc. (ABBV)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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AZN vs ABBV: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AZN or ABBV a better buy right now?
For growth investors, AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the stronger pick with 8.
6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 6% for AbbVie Inc. (ABBV). AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) offers the better valuation at 28. 3x trailing P/E (18. 0x 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 28.
3x versus AbbVie Inc. at 86. 5x. On forward P/E, AbbVie Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — 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 +102. 8%, compared to +87. 0% for AstraZeneca PLC (AZN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ABBV returned +306. 7% versus AZN's +290. 3%. 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), AbbVie Inc.
(ABBV) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 34β versus AstraZeneca PLC's 0. 67β — meaning AZN is approximately 98% more volatile than ABBV relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — AZN or ABBV?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is pulling ahead at 8.
6% versus 8. 6% for AbbVie Inc. (ABBV). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: AstraZeneca PLC grew EPS 190. 7% year-over-year, compared to -0. 8% for AbbVie Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, AZN leads at 9. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — AZN or ABBV?
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) is the more profitable company, earning 17.
5% net margin versus 6. 9% for AbbVie Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ABBV leads at 32. 8% versus 23. 4% for AZN. 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.
07Is AZN or ABBV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AbbVie Inc.
(ABBV) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 18. 0x for AstraZeneca PLC — 3. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABBV: 25. 2% to $256. 64.
08Which pays a better dividend — AZN or ABBV?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 8% for AstraZeneca PLC (AZN).
09Is AZN or ABBV 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. 34), 3. 2% yield, +306. 7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABBV: +306. 7%, AZN: +290. 3%), 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.
10What 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.
In terms of investment character: AZN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; ABBV is a large-cap income-oriented 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(AZN: 12.5% · ABBV: 10.0%)Net Margin>
%
(AZN: 17.2% · ABBV: 6.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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