Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) vs AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) vs Amgen Inc. (AMGN) vs 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 | AMGN | 10.0% revenue growth vs BIIB's 1.4% |
| Value | NVO | Lower P/E (1.8x vs 17.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | NVO | 33.1% net margin vs ABBV's 4.0% |
| Stability / Safety | GILD | Beta 0.38 vs NVO's 1.08 |
| Dividends | NVO | 4.7% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs ABBV's 2.7% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BIIB | +36.5% 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
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
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.
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.
Amgen is a global biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative human therapeutics for serious illnesses. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its branded biologic medicines — with key products including Enbrel, Prolia, Otezla, and Repatha — across therapeutic areas like oncology, inflammation, bone health, and cardiovascular disease. The company's moat lies in its deep expertise in complex biologics manufacturing, extensive patent protection for its innovative therapies, and a robust pipeline of novel drug candidates.
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
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 5 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NVO leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). GILD leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NVO is the larger business by revenue, generating $297.2B annually — 30.3x BIIB's $9.8B. 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 | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $297.2B | $59.6B | $36.7B | $29.4B | $9.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $144.2B | $17.3B | $15.6B | $12.4B | $2.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $98.5B | $2.4B | $7.7B | $8.5B | $1.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $56.2B | $20.6B | $8.1B | $9.7B | $2.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +81.0% | +69.7% | +70.5% | +80.8% | +70.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.4% | +15.2% | +28.0% | +37.4% | +19.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +33.1% | +4.0% | +21.0% | +28.9% | +13.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.9% | +34.5% | +22.0% | +32.8% | +21.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -21.5% | +9.1% | +8.6% | +4.7% | -7.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.6% | -88.7% | +111.2% | +22.5% | -118.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 10.3x trailing earnings, NVO trades at a 97% valuation discount to GILD's 392.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NVO offers better value at 0.50x vs AMGN's 9.27x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $126.3B | $410.1B | $209.2B | $185.6B | $28.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $142.8B | $472.4B | $254.7B | $202.3B | $32.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.30x | 97.08x | 27.28x | 391.97x | 21.72x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.76x | 15.95x | 17.33x | 17.13x | 12.16x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.50x | — | 9.27x | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.27x | 26.96x | 12.56x | 45.68x | 11.41x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.69x | 7.28x | 5.69x | 6.45x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.44x | 122.29x | 24.30x | 9.71x | 1.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.11x | 23.00x | 25.83x | 18.01x | 13.73x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AMGN delivers a 89.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $89 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 ABBV's 20.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AMGN scores 7/9 vs BIIB's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +50.8% | +62.2% | +89.1% | +37.6% | +7.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +18.1% | +1.8% | +8.5% | +14.4% | +4.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +34.9% | +11.1% | +20.7% | +3.2% | +6.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +42.8% | +9.5% | +22.3% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.67x | 20.17x | 6.31x | 1.39x | 0.38x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $104.5B | $62.3B | $45.5B | $16.7B | $3.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $26.5B | $5.5B | $9.1B | $10.0B | $3.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $131.0B | $67.8B | $54.6B | $26.7B | $6.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.26x | 1.58x | 4.24x | 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 NVO's -57.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GILD at 25.2% vs NVO's -16.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -28.5% | +1.9% | +19.2% | +22.5% | +7.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -57.3% | +14.2% | +29.1% | +33.1% | +36.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.2% | +63.1% | +79.4% | +96.4% | -28.9% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.1% | +141.7% | +89.7% | +162.5% | -29.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +76.8% | +413.0% | +221.6% | +101.0% | -26.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.7% | +17.7% | +21.5% | +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 NVO's 1.08 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AMGN currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs NVO's 40.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.08x | 0.42x | 0.45x | 0.38x | 0.61x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $91.90 | $244.81 | $390.09 | $157.29 | $202.41 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $37.31 | $164.39 | $261.43 | $93.37 | $110.04 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +40.8% | +94.8% | +99.5% | +94.7% | +94.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 23.7 | 49.6 | 62.5 | 48.8 | 50.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 20.3M | 5.7M | 2.3M | 6.2M | 1.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: NVO as "Buy", ABBV as "Buy", AMGN as "Buy", GILD as "Buy", BIIB as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.5% upside for NVO (target: $47) vs -10.6% for AMGN (target: $347). For income investors, NVO offers the higher dividend yield at 4.72% vs GILD's 2.10%.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | BIIBBiogen Inc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $47.00 | $256.15 | $347.00 | $157.38 | $206.76 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 39 | 37 | 58 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.7% | +2.7% | — | +2.1% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $11.19 | $6.22 | — | $3.12 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +0.4% | 0.0% | +0.6% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 100 | 202.72 | +102.7% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 100 | 263.26 | +163.3% |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 100 | 172.57 | +72.6% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 100 | 206.01 | +106.0% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 100 | 58.07 | -41.9% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | $111.8B | $297.2B | +165.9% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | $25.6B | $56.3B | +119.7% |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | $23.0B | $36.8B | +59.8% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | $30.4B | $28.8B | -5.4% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | $11.4B | $9.8B | -14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 33.9% | 33.1% | -2.3% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 23.2% | 7.6% | -67.3% |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 33.6% | 21.0% | -37.5% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 44.4% | 1.7% | -96.2% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 32.3% | 13.2% | -59.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 3.5 | 2.2 | -37.1% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 29.3 | 74.4 | +153.9% |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 64.6 | 23 | -64.4% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 20.4 | 243.1 | +1091.7% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 26.7 | 19.9 | -25.5% |
Novo Nordisk A/S has traded in a 2x–6x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 7.48 | 23.03 | +207.9% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 3.63 | 2.39 | -34.2% |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 10.24 | 14.23 | +39.0% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 9.94 | 0.38 | -96.2% |
| Biogen Inc. (BIIB) | 16.93 | 8.83 | -47.8% |
Novo Nordisk A/S's EPS grew from $7.48 (2016) to $23.03 (2025) — a 13% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Novo Nordisk A/S generated $57B FCF in 2025 (+19% vs 2021). AbbVie Inc. generated $18B FCF in 2024 (-19% vs 2021).
NVO vs ABBV vs AMGN vs GILD vs BIIB: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB 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 Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) 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 — NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB?
On trailing P/E, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is the cheapest at 10.3x versus Gilead Sciences, Inc. at 392.0x. On forward P/E, Novo Nordisk A/S is actually cheaper at 1.8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Novo Nordisk A/S wins at 0.09x versus Amgen Inc.'s 5.89x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NVO or ABBV or AMGN or 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: ABBV returned +413.0% 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 — NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.38β versus Novo Nordisk A/S's 1.08β — meaning NVO is approximately 182% 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 20% for AbbVie Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB?
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is the more profitable company, earning 33.1% net margin versus 1.7% for Gilead Sciences, 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 5.8% for GILD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMGN leads at 82.5%, 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 NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.09x versus Amgen Inc.'s 5.89x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) trades at 1.8x forward P/E versus 17.3x for Amgen Inc. — 15.6x 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 — NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB?
In this comparison, NVO (4.7% yield), ABBV (2.7% yield), GILD (2.1% yield) pay a dividend. AMGN, BIIB do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is NVO or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or BIIB 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%, 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 NVO and ABBV and AMGN and 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. In terms of investment character: NVO is a mid-cap deep-value stock; ABBV is a large-cap quality compounder stock; AMGN is a large-cap quality compounder stock; GILD is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; BIIB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. NVO, ABBV, GILD pay a dividend while AMGN, BIIB do 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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