Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) 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 | 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
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.
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
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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $29.4B | $9.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12.4B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $8.5B | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $9.7B | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +80.8% | +70.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +19.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +28.9% | +13.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +32.8% | +21.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.7% | -7.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.5% | -118.0% |
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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $185.6B | $28.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $202.3B | $32.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 391.97x | 21.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.13x | 12.16x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 45.68x | 11.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 6.45x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 9.71x | 1.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.01x | 13.73x |
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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +37.6% | +7.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +14.4% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.2% | +6.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.39x | 0.38x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $16.7B | $3.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $10.0B | $3.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $26.7B | $6.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.56x | 8.80x |
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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.5% | +7.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +33.1% | +36.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +96.4% | -28.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +162.5% | -29.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +101.0% | -26.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +25.2% | -10.8% |
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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.38x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $157.29 | $202.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.37 | $110.04 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.7% | +94.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 50.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 6.2M | 1.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates GILD as "Buy" and BIIB 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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $157.38 | $206.76 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 58 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 10 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.12 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | 0.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 100 | 189.51 | +89.5% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 100 | 54.62 | -45.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | $30.4B | $28.8B | -5.4% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 44.4% | 1.7% | -96.2% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 20.4 | 243.1 | +1091.7% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 26.7 | 19.9 | -25.5% |
Gilead Sciences, Inc. has traded in a 15x–243x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~392x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 9.94 | 0.38 | -96.2% |
| 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
Gilead Sciences, Inc. generated $10B FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021). Biogen Inc. generated $2B FCF in 2025 (-39% vs 2021).
GILD vs BIIB: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is GILD 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 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) a "Buy" — based on 58 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 — GILD or BIIB?
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 — GILD or BIIB?
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 — GILD or BIIB?
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 — GILD or BIIB?
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 GILD or BIIB 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 — GILD or BIIB?
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 GILD or BIIB 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 GILD 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. 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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