Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Novartis AG (NVS) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) 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 | AGIO | 48.0% revenue growth vs NVS's 6.0% |
| Quality / Margins | NVS | 24.9% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | NVS | Beta 0.24 vs AGIO's 0.91 |
| Dividends | NVS | 2.4% yield; 6-year raise streak; AGIO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NVS | +57.6% vs AGIO's -14.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVS | 12.1% ROA vs AGIO's -29.0%, ROIC 18.8% vs -26.6% |
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
Novartis is a global pharmaceutical company that develops and markets innovative prescription drugs and generic medicines. It generates revenue primarily from its Innovative Medicines segment — which includes oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular drugs — and its Sandoz generics division, with Innovative Medicines contributing roughly 80% of total sales. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep R&D pipeline, strong patent protection for blockbuster drugs, and global commercial infrastructure that spans both branded and generic markets.
Agios Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases related to cellular metabolism. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its lead drug PYRUKYND for pyruvate kinase deficiency — with additional income from research collaborations and milestone payments — while advancing a pipeline of other metabolic therapies. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in cellular metabolism science and proprietary platform for targeting metabolic pathways in rare diseases.
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
NVS leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AGIO leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NVS is the larger business by revenue, generating $56.1B annually — 1253.6x AGIO's $45M. NVS is the more profitable business, keeping 24.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, AGIO holds the edge at +43.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NVSNovartis AG | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $56.1B | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $22.4B | -$470M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $14.0B | -$401M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $15.6B | -$414M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +73.2% | +84.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +30.4% | -10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.9% | -9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +27.9% | -9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.6% | +43.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -11.3% | -111.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | NVSNovartis AG | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $321.8B | $2.25T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $347.4B | $2.25T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.45x | -4.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 18.99x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.53x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.49x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.87x | 9999.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.08x | 1.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 18.19x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
NVS delivers a 30.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $30 in annual profit, vs $-31 for AGIO. AGIO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NVS's 0.80x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NVS scores 6/9 vs AGIO's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NVSNovartis AG | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +30.0% | -31.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +12.1% | -29.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +18.8% | -26.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +21.1% | -33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.80x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $25.6B | -$49M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $11.4B | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $37.0B | $40M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.35x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in NVS five years ago would be worth $21,947 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,363 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, NVS leads with a +57.6% total return vs AGIO's -14.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NVS at 30.6% vs AGIO's 6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NVSNovartis AG | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +21.7% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +57.6% | -14.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +122.8% | +19.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +119.5% | -36.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +221.6% | -21.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.6% | +6.1% |
Risk & Volatility
NVS is the less volatile stock with a 0.24 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGIO's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NVS currently trades 98.9% from its 52-week high vs AGIO's 65.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NVSNovartis AG | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.24x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $170.46 | $46.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $97.72 | $22.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.9% | +65.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.2 | 62.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.7M | 948K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NVS as "Hold" and AGIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 37.3% upside for AGIO (target: $42) vs -24.7% for NVS (target: $127). NVS is the only dividend payer here at 2.38% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NVSNovartis AG | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $127.00 | $41.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 6 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.02 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.9% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG (NVS) | 100 | 183.75 | +83.7% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 57.07 | -42.9% |
Novartis AG (NVS) returned +119% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%. A $10,000 investment in NVS 5 years ago would be worth $21,947 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG (NVS) | $49.4B | $54.8B | +10.9% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
Novartis AG's revenue grew from $49.4B (2016) to $54.8B (2025) — a 1.2% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $70M (2016) to $54M (2025) — a -2.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG (NVS) | 13.6% | 25.6% | +88.9% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
Novartis AG's net margin went from 14% (2016) to 26% (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG (NVS) | 21.6 | 19.2 | -11.1% |
Novartis AG has traded in a 8x–29x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~23x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis AG (NVS) | 2.8 | 7.19 | +156.8% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
Novartis AG's EPS grew from $2.80 (2016) to $7.19 (2025) — a 11% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Novartis AG generated $18B FCF in 2025 (+41% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
NVS vs AGIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NVS or AGIO a better buy right now?
Novartis AG (NVS) offers the better valuation at 23.5x trailing P/E (19.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) a "Buy" — based on 29 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 is the better long-term investment — NVS or AGIO?
Over the past 5 years, Novartis AG (NVS) delivered a total return of +119.5%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in NVS five years ago would be worth approximately $22K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NVS returned +221.6% versus AGIO's -21.2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — NVS or AGIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Novartis AG (NVS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.24β versus Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.91β — meaning AGIO is approximately 274% more volatile than NVS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 80% for Novartis AG — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — NVS or AGIO?
Novartis AG (NVS) is the more profitable company, earning 25.6% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 25.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NVS leads at 31.2% versus -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGIO leads at 88.3%, 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.
05Is NVS or AGIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGIO: 37.3% to $41.50.
06Which pays a better dividend — NVS or AGIO?
In this comparison, NVS (2.4% yield) pays a dividend. AGIO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is NVS or AGIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Novartis AG (NVS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.24), 2.4% yield, +221.6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NVS: +221.6%, AGIO: -21.2%), 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.
08What are the main differences between NVS and AGIO?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. NVS pays a dividend while AGIO 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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