Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Scilex Holding Company (SCLX) vs AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) vs Amgen Inc. (AMGN) vs Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) vs Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) 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 | SCLX | 21.1% 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 SCLX's -9.3% |
| 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) | GILD | +33.1% vs NVO's -57.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NVO | 18.1% ROA vs SCLX's -136.2% |
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
Scilex Holding is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing non-opioid pain management products. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its commercial product ZTlido — a prescription lidocaine topical patch for neuropathic pain — while advancing a pipeline of novel pain therapies through clinical trials. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized focus on non-opioid alternatives for acute and chronic pain, addressing a critical need in pain management with reduced addiction risks.
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.
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.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
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 — 7363.6x SCLX's $40M. NVO is the more profitable business, keeping 33.1% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to SCLX's -9.3%. On growth, ABBV holds the edge at +9.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | SCLXScilex Holding Co… | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $40M | $59.6B | $36.7B | $29.4B | $297.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$259M | $17.3B | $15.6B | $12.4B | $144.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$376M | $2.4B | $7.7B | $8.5B | $98.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $24M | $20.6B | $8.1B | $9.7B | $56.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +68.6% | +69.7% | +70.5% | +80.8% | +81.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -6.5% | +15.2% | +28.0% | +37.4% | +41.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -9.3% | +4.0% | +21.0% | +28.9% | +33.1% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +59.0% | +34.5% | +22.0% | +32.8% | +18.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -26.8% | +9.1% | +8.6% | +4.7% | -21.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -17.3% | -88.7% | +111.2% | +22.5% | -4.6% |
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 | SCLXScilex Holding Co… | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.5B | $410.1B | $209.2B | $185.6B | $126.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.5B | $472.4B | $254.7B | $202.3B | $142.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -0.42x | 97.08x | 27.28x | 391.97x | 10.30x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 2.64x | 15.95x | 17.33x | 17.13x | 1.76x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — | 9.27x | — | 0.50x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 26.96x | 12.56x | 45.68x | 6.27x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 26.58x | 7.28x | 5.69x | 6.45x | 2.69x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 122.29x | 24.30x | 9.71x | 5.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 77.75x | 23.00x | 25.83x | 18.01x | 14.11x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AMGN delivers a 89.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $89 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 ABBV's 20.17x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AMGN scores 7/9 vs NVO's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | SCLXScilex Holding Co… | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +62.2% | +89.1% | +37.6% | +50.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -136.2% | +1.8% | +8.5% | +14.4% | +18.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +11.1% | +20.7% | +3.2% | +34.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +9.5% | +22.3% | +3.4% | +42.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 20.17x | 6.31x | 1.39x | 0.67x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $35M | $62.3B | $45.5B | $16.7B | $104.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3M | $5.5B | $9.1B | $10.0B | $26.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $38M | $67.8B | $54.6B | $26.7B | $131.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -39.55x | 1.58x | 4.24x | 10.56x | 20.26x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GILD five years ago would be worth $26,249 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $238 for SCLX. 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 SCLX's -70.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | SCLXScilex Holding Co… | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -37.3% | +1.9% | +19.2% | +22.5% | -28.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -0.6% | +14.2% | +29.1% | +33.1% | -57.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.3% | +63.1% | +79.4% | +96.4% | -42.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.6% | +141.7% | +89.7% | +162.5% | +16.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -97.6% | +413.0% | +221.6% | +101.0% | +76.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -70.0% | +17.7% | +21.5% | +25.2% | -16.7% |
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 SCLX's 24.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | SCLXScilex Holding Co… | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.96x | 0.42x | 0.45x | 0.38x | 1.08x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $34.27 | $244.81 | $390.09 | $157.29 | $91.90 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $3.60 | $164.39 | $261.43 | $93.37 | $37.31 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +24.0% | +94.8% | +99.5% | +94.7% | +40.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 35.9 | 49.6 | 62.5 | 48.8 | 23.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 61K | 5.7M | 2.3M | 6.2M | 20.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: SCLX as "Buy", ABBV as "Buy", AMGN as "Buy", GILD as "Buy", NVO 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 | SCLXScilex Holding Co… | ABBVAbbVie Inc. | AMGNAmgen Inc. | GILDGilead Sciences, … | NVONovo Nordisk A/S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $256.15 | $347.00 | $157.38 | $47.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 2 | 39 | 37 | 58 | 39 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.7% | — | +2.1% | +4.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 12 | 14 | 10 | 8 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $6.22 | — | $3.12 | $11.19 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.4% | 0.0% | +0.6% | +0.2% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scilex Holding Comp… (SCLX) | 100 | 2.65 | -97.3% |
| AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) | 100 | 207.92 | +107.9% |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 100 | 138.33 | +38.3% |
| Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) | 100 | 215.07 | +115.1% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 100 | 174.19 | +74.2% |
Gilead Sciences, In… (GILD) returned +162% over 5 years vs Scilex Holding Comp… (SCLX)'s -98%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scilex Holding Comp… (SCLX) | $24M | $57M | +140.2% |
| 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% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | $111.8B | $297.2B | +165.9% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scilex Holding Comp… (SCLX) | -2.0% | -128.7% | -6278.8% |
| 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% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 33.9% | 33.1% | -2.3% |
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 3.5 | 2.2 | -37.1% |
AbbVie Inc. has traded in a 17x–74x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~97x. Amgen Inc. has traded in a 15x–65x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scilex Holding Comp… (SCLX) | -0.01 | -19.43 | -154106.3% |
| 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% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | 7.48 | 23.03 | +207.9% |
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Scilex Holding Company generated $19M FCF in 2024 (+168% vs 2021). AbbVie Inc. generated $18B FCF in 2024 (-19% vs 2021).
SCLX vs ABBV vs AMGN vs GILD vs NVO: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO 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 Scilex Holding Company (SCLX) a "Buy" — based on 2 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 — SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO?
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 — SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO?
Over the past 5 years, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) delivered a total return of +162.5%, compared to -97.6% for Scilex Holding Company (SCLX). 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 SCLX's -97.6%. 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 — SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO?
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 20% for AbbVie Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO?
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) is the more profitable company, earning 33.1% net margin versus -128.7% for Scilex Holding Company — 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 -147.4% for SCLX. 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 SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO 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 — SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO?
In this comparison, NVO (4.7% yield), ABBV (2.7% yield), GILD (2.1% yield) pay a dividend. SCLX, AMGN do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is SCLX or ABBV or AMGN or GILD or NVO 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%, SCLX: -97.6%), 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 SCLX and ABBV and AMGN and GILD and NVO?
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: SCLX is a small-cap quality compounder 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; NVO is a mid-cap deep-value stock. ABBV, GILD, NVO pay a dividend while SCLX, AMGN 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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