Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Biogen Inc. (BIIB) vs Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) 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 | GILD | 6.0% revenue growth vs BIIB's 1.4% |
| Value | BIIB | Lower P/E (12.2x vs 17.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | GILD | 28.9% net margin vs BIIB's 13.2% |
| Stability / Safety | GILD | Beta 0.38 vs BIIB's 0.61 |
| Dividends | GILD | 2.1% yield; 10-year raise streak; BIIB pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | BIIB | +36.5% vs GILD's +33.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GILD | 14.4% ROA vs BIIB's 4.4%, ROIC 3.2% vs 6.5% |
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
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.
Gilead Sciences is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines for serious diseases like HIV, viral hepatitis, and cancer. It generates revenue primarily from antiviral drugs — especially HIV treatments like Biktarvy which drive the majority of sales — along with oncology therapies and COVID-19 treatment Veklury. The company's moat lies in its deep expertise in antiviral drug development, a robust HIV franchise with high patient retention, and a pipeline of cell therapy and oncology assets.
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
GILD leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). BIIB leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GILD is the larger business by revenue, generating $29.4B annually — 3.0x BIIB's $9.8B. GILD is the more profitable business, keeping 28.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BIIB's 13.2%. On growth, GILD holds the edge at +4.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9.8B | $29.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.8B | $12.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.3B | $8.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.1B | $9.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +70.5% | +80.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +37.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.2% | +28.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +21.8% | +32.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.1% | +4.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -118.0% | +22.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.7x trailing earnings, BIIB trades at a 94% valuation discount to GILD's 392.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BIIB's 11.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GILD's 45.7x.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $28.2B | $185.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $32.1B | $202.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.72x | 391.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.16x | 17.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.41x | 45.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.87x | 6.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.54x | 9.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 13.73x | 18.01x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GILD delivers a 37.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $38 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 GILD's 1.39x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GILD scores 7/9 vs BIIB's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +7.1% | +37.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.4% | +14.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.5% | +3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.7% | +3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.38x | 1.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.6B | $16.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.0B | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $6.9B | $26.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.80x | 10.56x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GILD five years ago would be worth $26,249 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,020 for BIIB. Over the past 12 months, BIIB leads with a +36.5% total return vs GILD's +33.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GILD at 25.2% vs BIIB's -10.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +7.9% | +22.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +36.5% | +33.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -28.9% | +96.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -29.8% | +162.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -26.1% | +101.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -10.8% | +25.2% |
Risk & Volatility
GILD is the less volatile stock with a 0.38 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 | BIIBBiogen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.61x | 0.38x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $202.41 | $157.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $110.04 | $93.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.8% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.7 | 48.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 6.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BIIB as "Buy" and GILD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.8% upside for BIIB (target: $207) vs 5.7% for GILD (target: $157). GILD is the only dividend payer here at 2.10% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | BIIBBiogen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $206.76 | $157.38 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 47 | 58 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.12 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 100 | 54.62 | -45.4% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 100 | 189.51 | +89.5% |
Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) returned +162% over 5 years vs Biogen Inc. (BIIB)'s -30%. A $10,000 investment in GILD 5 years ago would be worth $26,249 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | $11.4B | $9.8B | -14.3% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | $30.4B | $28.8B | -5.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 32.3% | 13.2% | -59.2% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 44.4% | 1.7% | -96.2% |
Biogen Inc.'s net margin went from 32% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 26.7 | 19.9 | -25.5% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 20.4 | 243.1 | +1091.7% |
Biogen Inc. has traded in a 9x–33x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. Gilead Sciences, Inc. has traded in a 15x–243x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~392x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 16.93 | 8.83 | -47.8% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 9.94 | 0.38 | -96.2% |
Biogen Inc.'s EPS grew from $16.93 (2016) to $8.83 (2025) — a -7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Biogen Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (-39% vs 2021). Gilead Sciences, Inc. generated $10B FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021).
BIIB vs GILD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BIIB or GILD 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 Biogen Inc. (BIIB) a "Buy" — based on 47 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 — BIIB or GILD?
On trailing P/E, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the cheapest at 21.7x versus Gilead Sciences, Inc. at 392.0x. On forward P/E, Biogen Inc. is actually cheaper at 12.2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BIIB or GILD?
Over the past 5 years, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) delivered a total return of +162.5%, compared to -29.8% for Biogen Inc. (BIIB). A $10,000 investment in GILD five years ago would be worth approximately $26K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GILD returned +101.0% 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 — BIIB or GILD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.38β versus Biogen Inc.'s 0.61β — meaning BIIB is approximately 61% more volatile than GILD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 38% versus 139% for Gilead Sciences, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BIIB or GILD?
Biogen Inc. (BIIB) is the more profitable company, earning 13.2% net margin versus 1.7% for Gilead Sciences, 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 5.8% for GILD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GILD leads at 78.3%, 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 BIIB or GILD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Biogen Inc. (BIIB) trades at 12.2x forward P/E versus 17.1x for Gilead Sciences, Inc. — 5.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BIIB: 7.8% to $206.76.
07Which pays a better dividend — BIIB or GILD?
In this comparison, GILD (2.1% yield) pays a dividend. BIIB does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is BIIB or GILD better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.38), 2.1% yield, +101.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GILD: +101.0%, 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 BIIB and GILD?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. GILD 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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