AstraZeneca plc vs Equinor ASA — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $157.63 (market cap $248.14B), while Equinor ASA trades at $40.74 (market cap $97.58B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc is far larger — about 2.5× Equinor ASA's market cap, and Equinor ASA pays the higher dividend (3.81%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | EQNR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $248.14B | $97.58B |
Sector | Health | Energy |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $42.40 |
52-Week Low | $147.06 | $22.41 |
Enterprise Value | $275.41B | $106.28B |
Dividend Yield | 2.01% | 3.81% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $161.91, up 0.3% on the day, amid mixed technical signals and strong fundamental performance. The stock exhibits a bearish technical trend with key support at $161 and resistance at $163, while recent earnings consistently beat expectations with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.63 versus $2.50 estimated. Revenue growth has been robust, climbing from $44.4B in 2022 to $58.7B in 2025, with a net income margin of 17.4% in 2025. Recent news centers on potential merger discussions with Bristol Myers Squibb, though reports on August 5, 2026, from Reuters indicate no current talks.
The outlook for AZN is cautiously optimistic, driven by solid profitability and analyst support, but tempered by merger-related volatility and a bearish technical setup. Investment opportunities lie in its high gross margin of 81.88% and positive earnings trajectory, while risks include integration challenges from any future acquisitions and market sensitivity to deal speculation. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 23.76 appears reasonable given its growth profile.
EQNR trades at $40.99, up 5.32% over 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong Q2 2026 revenue growth of 40% year-over-year despite an earnings miss, driven by higher energy prices and production. Recent news highlights a 22.2% monthly rally and ongoing share buybacks. Valuation ratios appear attractive with a P/E of 11.09 and EV/EBITDA of 2.3, while profitability metrics like a 21.32% ROE indicate efficient capital use.
The outlook for EQNR is positive, with opportunities from strategic investments in subsea projects and sustained cash flow generation supporting dividends and buybacks. Risks include volatility in oil and gas prices, execution challenges in growth projects, and potential regulatory shifts impacting energy markets. Analyst sentiment is mixed but leans cautious, with 56.53% holding a neutral stance amid valuation concerns after recent gains.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across several major therapeutic classes, including gastrointestinal, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and immunology. The majority of sales come from international markets with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.
Read more on AZN →Equinor is a Norway-based integrated oil and gas company. It has been publicly listed since 2001, but the government retains a 67% stake. Operating primarily on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the firm produced 2.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2021 (52% oil) and ended the year with 5.4 billion barrels of proven reserves (49% oil). Operations also include offshore wind, solar, oil refineries and natural gas processing, marketing, and trading.
Read more on EQNR →