Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) 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 NVO's 2.3% |
| Value | NVO | Lower P/E (1.8x vs 17.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | NVO | 33.1% net margin vs GILD's 28.9% |
| Stability / Safety | GILD | Beta 0.38 vs NVO's 1.08 |
| Dividends | NVO | 4.7% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs GILD's 2.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GILD | +33.1% vs NVO's -57.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVO | 18.1% ROA vs GILD's 14.4%, ROIC 34.9% vs 3.2% |
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
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.
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
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NVO leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). GILD leads in 2 (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NVO is the larger business by revenue, generating $297.2B annually — 10.1x GILD's $29.4B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 33.1% (NVO) to 28.9% (GILD). On growth, GILD holds the edge at +4.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $297.2B | $29.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $144.2B | $12.4B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $98.5B | $8.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $56.2B | $9.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +81.0% | +80.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +41.4% | +37.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +33.1% | +28.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +18.9% | +32.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -21.5% | +4.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.6% | +22.5% |
Valuation Metrics
At 10.3x trailing earnings, NVO trades at a 97% valuation discount to GILD's 392.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NVO's 6.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GILD's 45.7x.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $126.3B | $185.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $142.8B | $202.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.30x | 391.97x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 1.76x | 17.13x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.50x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 6.27x | 45.68x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.69x | 6.45x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 5.44x | 9.71x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.11x | 18.01x |
Profitability & Efficiency
NVO delivers a 50.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $51 in annual profit, vs $38 for GILD. NVO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.67x 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 NVO's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +50.8% | +37.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +18.1% | +14.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +34.9% | +3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +42.8% | +3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.67x | 1.39x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $104.5B | $16.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $26.5B | $10.0B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $131.0B | $26.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.26x | 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 $11,607 for NVO. Over the past 12 months, GILD leads with a +33.1% 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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -28.5% | +22.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -57.3% | +33.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -42.2% | +96.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +16.1% | +162.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +76.8% | +101.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -16.7% | +25.2% |
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. GILD currently trades 94.7% 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 | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.08x | 0.38x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $91.90 | $157.29 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $37.31 | $93.37 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +40.8% | +94.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 23.7 | 48.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 20.3M | 6.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NVO as "Buy" and GILD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.5% upside for NVO (target: $47) vs 5.7% for GILD (target: $157). For income investors, NVO offers the higher dividend yield at 4.72% vs GILD's 2.10%.
| Metric | NVONovo Nordisk A/S | GILDGilead Sciences, … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $47.00 | $157.38 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 39 | 58 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.7% | +2.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $11.19 | $3.12 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 100 | 192.83 | +92.8% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 100 | 189.51 | +89.5% |
Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) returned +162% over 5 years vs Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO)'s +16%. 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% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | $30.4B | $28.8B | -5.4% |
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% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 44.4% | 1.7% | -96.2% |
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% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 20.4 | 243.1 | +1091.7% |
Novo Nordisk A/S has traded in a 2x–6x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 7.48 | 23.03 | +207.9% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 9.94 | 0.38 | -96.2% |
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). Gilead Sciences, Inc. generated $10B FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021).
NVO vs GILD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NVO or GILD 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 GILD?
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.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NVO or GILD?
Over the past 5 years, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) delivered a total return of +162.5%, compared to +16.1% for Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO). 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 NVO's +76.8%. 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 GILD?
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, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 67% versus 139% for Gilead Sciences, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — NVO or GILD?
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 — NVO leads at 81.0%, 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 GILD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) trades at 1.8x forward P/E versus 17.1x for Gilead Sciences, Inc. — 15.4x 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 GILD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) offers the highest yield at 4.7%, versus 2.1% for Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD).
08Is NVO 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%, NVO: +76.8%), 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 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. In terms of investment character: NVO is a mid-cap deep-value stock; GILD is a mid-cap quality compounder 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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