AstraZeneca plc vs Global Payments Inc — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $168.4 (market cap $253.13B), while Global Payments Inc trades at $79.96 (market cap $20.76B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc is far larger — about 12.2× Global Payments Inc's market cap, and AstraZeneca plc pays the higher dividend (1.92%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | GPN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $253.13B | $20.76B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $90.01 |
52-Week Low | $137.44 | $62.47 |
Enterprise Value | $279.37B | $38.48B |
Dividend Yield | 1.92% | 1.32% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $169.47, down 1.25% amid recent volatility following a Phase III trial failure for Wainua. The stock shows bearish technical signals with key support at $168 and resistance at $170. Fundamentally, the company reported strong 2025 results with revenue of $58.74B and net income of $10.23B, though a recent $1.5B licensing deal for a lung cancer drug highlights ongoing pipeline investments. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 47.5% buy ratings but recent downgrades from firms like HSBC citing trial setbacks.
The outlook balances robust financials against pipeline execution risks. Revenue growth and high margins support valuation, but the Wainua failure raises concerns about future catalysts. Investors should weigh the company's strong cash flow and market position against clinical trial volatility and potential legal investigations. Near-term price action may hinge on Q2 2026 earnings due July 27, 2026.
GPN trades at $76.85, up 1.07% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and recent earnings beats. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.96, exceeding expectations, and maintains strong cash flow from operations at $2.66B in 2025. However, net income margin turned negative at -7.97% for 2026, reflecting profitability challenges amid rising debt levels, with debt-to-asset ratio increasing to 41.57% in 2025.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $81.56 price target and 58% buy ratings, supported by AI-driven POS expansions and the Worldpay integration. Key risks include margin pressure from fintech competition and high leverage, which could constrain equity returns if revenue growth falters.
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 →Global Payments is a leading provider of payment processing and software solutions and focuses on serving small and midsize merchants. The company operates in 30 countries and generates about one fourth of its revenue from outside North America, primarily in Europe and Asia. In 2019, Global Payments merged with Total System Services in an all-stock deal that gave Total System Services shareholders 48% of the combined company's shares.
Read more on GPN →