Alcon AG vs GSK plc — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $73.99 (market cap $36.44B), while GSK plc trades at $50.33 (market cap $102.60B). The key difference: GSK plc is far larger — about 2.8× Alcon AG's market cap, and GSK plc pays the higher dividend (3.57%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | GSK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.44B | $102.60B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $90.12 | $61.18 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $38.22 |
Enterprise Value | $40.28B | $123.04B |
Dividend Yield | 0.48% | 3.57% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $73.59, down slightly by 0.05% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $86.67 implying 17.8% upside. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat estimates with EPS of $0.84 versus $0.77 expected, and the company raised its 2026 profitability outlook, driving positive investor sentiment. Revenue growth has been steady, reaching $10.40 billion in 2025, though net income margin dipped to 5.92%.
The outlook is positive given strong earnings beats, raised guidance, and bullish analyst ratings, but risks include elevated P/E of 57.52, high RSI levels suggesting overbought conditions, and margin pressures from rising costs. Institutional ownership trends and recent collaborations, like with RxSight, support growth, yet macroeconomic and competitive factors warrant caution.
GSK trades at $50.27, down 3.62% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including a P/E of 16.02 and net income margin of 14.52%. Recent quarters show earnings beats, and the company announced a $2.52 billion cost-saving plan to boost its drug pipeline. Cash flow from operations remains robust at $7.74 billion for 2025.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus leans hold (55.18%) amid valuation concerns, but revenue growth and pipeline investments support long-term potential. Key risks include competitive pressures and regulatory uncertainty, as highlighted by recent news on vaccine policies. The stock offers a dividend yield with payments scheduled through 2026.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →In the pharmaceutical industry, GSK ranks as one of the largest firms by total sales. The company wields its might across several therapeutic classes, including respiratory, cancer, and antiviral, as well as vaccines. GSK uses joint ventures to gain additional scale in certain markets like HIV.
Read more on GSK →